THE PRATINCOLES. 135 



Saunders, it extends its course to the Camargue in the south 

 of France, where again it finds suitable breeding-ground, a 

 few ascending the valley of the Rhone to Savoy, and spreading 

 out over the central and northern districts of France as far 

 west as the mouth of the Somme. The Pratincole also inhabits 

 Hungary, but is rare in Poland. Eastwards its range extends 

 to Central Asia, where it is found along with Nordmann's 

 Pratincole (G. melanoptera}, the species of Southern Russia, 

 which is easily distinguished from the Common Pratincole 

 by its black under wing-coverts and axillaries. In winter, 

 G. pratincola extends to India, where G. melanoptera is, as 

 yet, unknown, but both Pratincoles winter in Africa. 



Habits. The ways of the Pratincole are very different in 

 many respects from those of other Plovers. Although its legs 

 are very short, it is able to run with great swiftness, and its 

 flight is very powerful, resembling that of a Swallow, and, 

 like the latter bird, the Pratincole captures much of its prey 

 on the wing. Mr. Seebohm relates that the bird has a very 

 peculiar habit of feigning lameness. " Before the breeding- 

 season has fairly commenced," he says, " you may stand on a 

 piece of fallow ground and watch a dozen birds, each within 

 pistol-shot, lying on their sides and making apparently constant 

 efforts to expand a wing, as if in the last death-struggle, and 

 yet you may search in vain for an egg." Mr. Osbert Salvin, 

 who found the species breeding in the district of the Eastern 

 Atlas, writes : " The Pratincole was found on the table-lands of 

 the interior, frequenting the salt lakes and fresh-water marshes. 

 Its fearless manner and familiar habits cause it to rank high 

 among the interesting birds of the country ; and I remember 

 few that I have watched with greater pleasure. When in 

 proximity to their nests, the whole flock come wheeling and 

 screaming round, while some dart passionately down to with- 

 in a few feet of the intruder's head, retiring again to make 

 another descent. When the first transports of excitement are 

 over, they all alight one by one on the ground. Some stand 

 quite still, watching with enquiring gaze ; while others stretch 

 themselves out, first expanding one wing, then the other, and 

 sitting down, extend both legs. In this position they remain 

 for some seconds, as if dead, when, suddenly springing up, 



