135 



GLAREOLA. PRATINCOLE. 



Generic Character. 



Rostrum basi reclinsculum. 

 validum. versus apicem 

 compressuin, apice iucur- 

 vum. 



Nares lineares obliquae. 



Rictus ampins. 

 Pedes tetradactyli, digitis basi 

 inembrana connexis. 



Cauda forficata, rectricibus 

 duodecim. 



Beak straight at the base, 

 strong, compressed, and in- 

 curved towards the tip. 



Nostrils linear and placed ob- 

 liquely. 



Gape very v.ide. 



Feet with four toe?, connected 

 together by a membrane at 

 the base. 



Tail forked, consisting of 

 twelve feathers. 



JL HE only species of this genus knov/n to Lin- 

 naeus was placed by him amongst the Hiruudines, 

 but many subsequent writers have transferred it 

 from thence and placed it among the writer birds, 

 to which it has not the least affinity, except in 

 having rather long legs, which are ba<3 of feathers 

 a little above the knee ; whereas it has the entire 

 habit of the Swallow tribe, especially in the shape 

 of the wings and tail ; and like them it resorts to 

 rivers and such like places in search of insects, on 

 which it feeds, and for the purpose of building its 

 nest'. 



