GRALLH. 



F;im. glareolid^e *. 



Bill short, curved, the gape very wide, and the tip compressed. Wings very long. Tail 

 short, either forked or even, of 12 feathers. Legs moderately long. Toes short; hind toe well 

 developed. 



Neck short. Of Swallow-like form. Of crepuscular habit. Sternum with a double emar- 



gination. 



Genus GLAREOLA. 

 Bill short, the culmen somewhat compressed at the base, then slightly elevated and curved 

 to the tip ; gape very wide and receding ; nostril oval and capacious. Wings very long, exceeding 

 the tail, pointed ; the 1st primary the longest, slightly exceeding the 2nd ; tail broad, emargi- 

 nate or forked. Tarsus slender, much longer than the middle toe, reticulated in front ; tibia bare 

 for the length of the hind toe and claw. Lateral toes very short and subequal, the outer slightly 

 syndactyle ; claws straight, the middle one slightly pectinated ; hind toe elevated. 



GLAKEOLA ORIENTALIS. 



(THE EASTERN SWALLOW-PLOVER.) 



Glareola orientalis, Leach, Trans. Z. S. xiii. p. 132, pi. 13. figs. 1, 2 (1821) ; Kelaart, Pro- 

 dromus, Cat. p. 132 (1852); Gould, B. of Austr. vi. pi. 23 (1848) ; Blyth, Cat, B. Mus. 

 A. S. B. p. 259 (1849) ; Jerdon, B. of Ind. iii. p. 631 (1864) ; Gould, Handb. B. of Austr. 

 ii. p. 245 (1865) ; Swinhoe, P. Z. S. 1871, p. 403 ; Ball, Str. Feath. 1873, p. 83 ; Hume, 

 ibid. 1874, p. 284; Salvadori, Ucc. di Born. p. 319 (1S74); Legge, Str. Feath. 1875,p.371 

 (first authenticated record from Ceylon); Hume, Nests and Eggs, iii. p. 568 (1875); Hume 

 & Davison, Str. Feath. 1878 (B. of Tenass.), p. 455; Oates, ibid. 1878, vii. p. 49; 

 Davidson & Wenden, t. c. p. 88 ; Hume, ibid. 1879, viii. p. 69, et p. 112 (List Ind. B.). 



The Oriental Pratincole, Latham ; Oriental Glareole, Laryer Pratincole of some. 



Adult male and female. Length 8*8 to 9-3 inches (outer tail-feathers variable in length); wing 7'4 to 7'5 ; tail 3'0 to 

 3*2, depth of fork 1-0; tarsus 1*3 to 1*4; bare tibia 0*5 ; middle toe and claw 1*0 to 1*05; hind toe and claw 

 0-25 to 03 ; bill to gape 0-97 to 1*03 ; expanse (of one with wing of 7 - 5) L'2-0. 



Jris dark brown; bill black, the gape brownish, and the base of lower mandible and margin of upper, from gape to 

 nostril, red ; tarsi reddish brown, changing to plumbeous on the feet and tibia. 



Head, upper surface, wings, sides of neck, and the chest brown, palest on the latter, and with a green lustre above, 

 strongest on the scapulars ; forehead and above the lores slightly darker ; chin, cheeks round the gape, and throat 

 buff, bounded all round by a black border, with a white inner edge, passing up to the anterior corner of the eye ; 



The true position of these remarkable birds has been the subject of much discussion. They differ from the 

 rest of the Grallai in their Hirundine or Swallow-like aspect and habits, and in their crepuscular disposition recall the 

 Nightjars somewhat. In their anatomy, wing- and leg-structure, general mode of life, and in their nidification they 

 are strictly a Plover form. 



