472 



PLOVER GROUP. 



tail-coverts, and the serration of the claw of the third toe. The group is confined 

 to the Old World, 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 exclusively 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 rivers 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 



COMMON PRATINCOLE ( nat. size). 



a small bird measuring from 9 to 10 inches in length, and inhabiting the 

 warmer parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa; an occasional straggler rarely 

 reaching the British Islands. In colour most of the upper-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 1 chestnut. The especial characteristics of 

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

 axillaries. Nordmann's pratincole (6r. melanoptera), which inhabits a large area 



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



