6o. 



ELEMENTS 01' OENITHOLOGT. 



There are but two species, and they live in Kerguelen Island, 

 „ the Crozettes, and extreme South America, feeding on sea-weed, 

 eggs, and small shell-fish. A Bird called the Pratincole (GZareoZa 

 pratincola) inhabits the temperate and warmer parts of Europe, 

 Africa, and Asia, and occasionally visits England, It frequents 

 the open country (marshes and sandy plains) or the sea-shore, 

 feeding on insects, and giving out a most peculiar rattling 



Fig. 61. 



The Stone-curlew [(Edicnemus crepitans). 



sound. It has long, pointed wings, a forked tail, and short 

 legs, and has been a great puzzle to Naturalists as to where it 

 should be placed in their systems. It flies about a great deal 

 with something of the motion of a Swallow, which perhaps 

 accounts for Linnaeus having classed it with that Bird. IJnlike 

 the Swallow, however, it runs very well on the ground and even 

 wades into pools. It is the type of a genus which consists 



