118 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 



Genus Glareola. 

 Tarsus rather short, the outstretched feet not reaching 

 beyond the tail. Tail strongly forked. 



The Oriental Pratincole. 



Glareola orientalis. 



Eastern Siberia to Australia in winter. 



Above olive-brown with greenish gloss; upper tail-coverts white; 

 tail forked and blackish, the base white, cheeks and throat buff, sur- 

 rounded with a white line; chest rufous; underparts white. Total length 

 10 inches, eulmen 0.65, wing 7.3, tail 3.15, tarsus 1.2. 



Nest on the bare ground. Two eggs are usually laid, of a 

 yellowish-stone colour, boldly marked with blotches of very dark 

 brown. They measure about 1.19 x .94 inch. 



These birds apparently do not breed in Australia, but are 

 often found in immense flocks in N.W. Australia. 



Family Oedicnemidce. 

 Nostrils holorhinal. Tarsus entirely reticulated. No hind 

 toe. 



Genus Burhinus. 

 Bill shorter than head. 



The Stone Plover. 



Burhinus grallarius. 



Australia. 



Above ashy-grey, the crown, neck and mantle streaked with blackish 

 stripes; lower back with blackish shaft-stripes; tail barred; a band of 

 white on the first four primaries; under surface white, tinged with tawny 

 on breast and sides and streaked. Total length 20.5 inches, eulmen 1.9, 

 wing 10.5, tail 6, tarsus 4.6. 



The two eggs are laid on the bare ground; usually the same 

 tint as the eggs. Those laid on decomposed basalt, which is 

 chocolate, have markings of that colour, and others in a similar 

 manner, the ground colour being usually light-stone or buff. 

 The eggs measure about 2.33 x 1.59 inch. 



Those in W. Australia are slightly smaller. 



