CLX. 



GLAREOLA TORQUATA. 



Collared Pratincole. 



Knowing nothing of this species I make free to extract 

 the following from Mr. Yarrell's work. "Among a collec- 

 tion of birds recently presented to the Zoological Society 

 by a son of Drummond Hay, Esq., and which had been 

 shot by that young gentleman in the vicinity of Tangiers, 

 were two skins of the Pratincole. On making enquiry of 

 the donor in reference to the Pratincole particularly, I 

 learned that the habits of this bird corresponded closely 

 with those of our Plovers, frequenting sandy plains, flying 

 and running with great rapidity, forming a slight nest in 

 any accidental depression of the dry soil, and laying four 

 eggs. One example of this bird's egg was given to the 

 Society." 



Mr. Yarrell has kindly supplied me with a drawing made 

 from this egg, from which the woodcut given in his own 

 book was taken, and from this I had also intended to make 

 my drawing, had not Mr. John Hancock, of Newcastle, 

 furnished me with the egg itself, which he has from a trust- 

 worthy coiTCspondent in France. It is very different from 

 the drawing lent me by Mr. YaiTell, but as I have a great 

 aversion to copy from any tiling but nature, I have prefer- 

 red giving Mr. Hancock's egg, having no reason to doubt 

 its authenticity, as it is very difi'erent from any other egg 

 with which I am acquainted. 



