372 



NORDMANN'S PRATINCOLE IN YORKSHIRE. 



AN ADDITION TO THE COUNTY AVIFAUNA. 



R. FORTUNE, F.Z.S. 



Early in August I heard that a Collared Pratincole had been 

 shot in the North Riding. This species is of sufficiently rare 

 occurrence to make the event worth investigating. 



I found that it had been shot in mistake for a Golden 

 Plover, by Mr. W. S. Charlton, of Northallerton, at Reedholme, 

 near Danby Wiske, on August 17th. Mr. Charlton was after 

 duck at the time, and was waiting beside some water in the 

 shelter of a bank, when a flock of Green Plover flew over. The 

 Pratincole was flying with them, and was the only one of its kind. 



Photo by\ [R. Fortun;, F.Z.S. 



Nordmann's Pratincole (Glareola melaaoptera). 



Shot near Danby Wiske. 



Mr. Charlton was kind enough to allow me to ha\'e the bird 

 for photographing, and it was sent on by Mr. Lee, of Thirsk, 

 who stuffed it. Upon arrival I saw that it was not the com.mon 

 Pratincole, and it proved to be a specimen of Nordmann's 

 or Black-winged Pratincole, Glareola melanoptera, and the first 

 to be recognised as a Yorkshire specimen. 



It differs distinctly from Glareola pratincola, in the secon- 

 daries not being tipped with white, and in having the under 

 wing coverts and axillaries jet black instead of chestnut. The 

 specimen resembles the figure of the bird of the year in Dresser's 

 ' Birds of Europe,' with the exception of having the dark bridle- 

 like marking round the throat, though this is not nearly so 

 conspicuous as in the adult plumage of G. -pratincola. 



Naturalist,. 



