986 GLAEEOLA LACTEA. 



tamarisk-bashes. The nests are never lined in any way. Four is the full number of eggs ; but three, and 



even two, are often found much incubated The strange antics played by these little birds, at least those 



of them that had young or hard-set eggs, whenever we approached their treasures were very remarkable : 

 flying past one they would come fluttering down on to the sand a few paces in front of one, and there gasp 

 and flutter as if mortally wounded, hobbling on with draggled wings and limping legs as one approached them, 

 and altogether simulating entire helpless and completely-crippled birds. -. . . I have seen Peewits and other 

 Plovers behave somewhat similarly; but these little Pratincoles seem to me to be cleverer performers than any 

 birds I had ever seen." 



GRALL^. 



Fam. HiEMATOPODID^E. 



Bill long or stout. Wings lengthened. Tail moderately short, of 12 feathers. Legs mode- 

 rate, the anterior toes connected by a web moderately developed ; hind toe wanting. 



Of moderately large size, without a change of plumage in the summer. Of purely littoral 

 habit ; gregarious ; shellfish eaters. 



Genus HiEMATOPUS. 



Bill long, straight, compressed from the nostrils to the tip, which is slightly obtuse ; the 

 commissure ascending from the centre to the tip ; nostrils linear, placed in a membrane at the 

 base of a long groove. Wings long, pointed, the first quill the longest ; tertials lengthened. 

 Tail short, of 12 feathers. Tarsus stout, short, and reticulated in front and behind. Toes short, 

 broad, connected at the base by a web, considerably developed between the outer and middle toe, 

 and extending along the sides as a narrow membrane ; nails broad and short ; hind toe wanting. 



Palate bony. 



