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BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



Common pratincole. 



THE Common Pratincole (Glareola pratincola^ Linnaeus) is 

 a rare irregular spring and autumn migrant to the British 

 Islands, and is found inhabiting the South-western Palearctic 

 Region. The adult has the general colour of the plumage 

 brownish-grey ; throat, white, tinged with rusty, and banded 

 by a narrow crescentic black band ; lores, black ; primaries 

 and greater wing-coverts, blackish ; tail-coverts and tail, 

 white ; the latter forked and banded broadly at the terminal 

 end with brownish-black ; breast, pale brownish-buff; below, 

 white; axillaries, reddish-chestnut; irides, dark hazel; bill, 

 reddish, black at the tip ; legs and feet, dark brown. Length, 

 from nine to ten inches. The adult female has the black 

 on the lores less pronounced, and the crescentic band is 

 absent. 



