PRATINCOLES AND COURSERS 2241 



where it is represented in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia; but the majority 

 of the species are tropical. Like the coursers, the pratincoles feed almost exclu- 

 sively on insects, although they differ from those allies in capturing their prey 

 while on the wing. They frequent sandy plains or marshes, and the banks of riv- 

 ers and lakes, as well as lagoons. At all times of the year they associate in flocks, 

 although each male selects but a single partner. The common pratincole, which is 

 the typical representative of the genus, is a small bird measuring from nine to ten 





COMMON PRATINCOLE. 

 (One-half natural size.) 



inches in length, and inhabiting the warmer parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa; an 

 occasional straggler rarely reaching the British Islands. In color most of the up- 

 per parts are clove brown; the primaries nearly black; the upper tail coverts white; 

 the feathers of the deeply-forked tail white at the base and elsewhere brownish 

 black; the chin white; the throat pale buff, bordered by a black line ascending to 

 the eye; the breast brownish buff; the under parts and thighs buffish white, and 

 the under wing coverts and axillaries * chestnut. The especial characteristics of the 

 species are the great length of the outer tail feathers, and the chestnut axillaries 

 Nordmann's pratincole (G. melanoptera) , which inhabits a large area of Central and 



* The long and stiff under wing coverts lying nearest to the armpit. 

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