PRATINCOLE. GRALLATORES. GLAREOLA. 215 
the central parts of Asia, it is common, and indeed its geo- 
graphical distribution seems to be very extensive, as might 
naturally be expected from its great power of flight. It 
feeds on flies, beetles, worms, and other aquatic insects, taken 
(as before noticed) either on wing or the ground, where it 
runs with great swiftness.—Its flight is singularly rapid, 
surpassing perhaps even that of any of the Swallow tribe.— 
Its nest is formed amongst the rushes, and the thick herbage 
of its above mentioned localities, and it lays several eggs, of 
which the colour has not been noticed by any author. This 
bird, from the change of plumage it undergoes at different 
seasons, and also attendant upon age, has been multiplied by 
some writers into three or four species, but which are clearly 
referable to the single one now under consideration. ‘Two 
species, distinct from the present one, are, however, given by 
Tremminck, as found on the Asiatic Continent and in New 
Holland, but never met with in Europe, viz. Glareola Gral- 
laria and Glar. lactea, and which are figured in the ‘* Planches 
Coloriées” of the same author. 
36* 
PART II Pirate &. Represents this bird of the natural 
size. 
Head, nape of the neck, back, scapulars, and wing-coverts, 
yellowish-brown, inclining to wood-brown, with a me- 
tallic lustre. Throat, and fore part of the neck red- 
dish-white, bounded by a narrow list of black, which 
proceeds upwards and joins a black streak between the 
bill and the eyes. Breast pale wood-brown; abdomen 
and vent white. Upper tail-coverts white. Tail much 
forked, having the basal half of its feathers white, the 
rest blackish-brown. Under wing-coverts brownish-red. 
Quills blackish-brown. Edges of the bill, and base of 
the lower mandible bright scarlet-orange. Legs brown- 
ish-purple red, Irides light reddish-brown. _ 
Food. 
Nest, &c. 
General 
descrip- 
tion. 
