Nest, &c. 
General 
descrip- 
tion. 
324 ALECTORIDES. GLAREOLA. Prartixncotm: 
ceed in a judicious arrangement of the feathered race, nature 
must: be taken as the guide, and a strict attention bestowed 
on the habits and‘economy of each particular species, as ex- 
hibited in that great field of observation ; combined with a 
competent knowledge of their external distinctions and anato- 
mical structure. It is by comparative deduction on. these 
points that a standard system of. ornithology can alone be 
founded. 
The Pratincole builds amongst the rushes, and other thick 
tufts of herbage, that abound in the haunts before mentioned, 
laymg four eggs, the colour of which has not been noticed by 
any author. ‘This bird, from the change of plumage it un- 
dergoes -at different seasons,.and also attendant upon age, has 
been multiplied by some writers into three or four species; 
but which are easily referable to the single one now under 
consideration. 
Two species, distinct from the present one, are, however, 
enumerated. by ‘TEmMrinck, as found in Asia, but never met 
with in Europe, viz. Glareola Grallaria, and Glareola lac- 
bea. 
Pirate 63-.. Natural size. 
Head, nape of neck, back, scapulars, and wing-coverts, ye! 
lowish-brown, inclming. to wood-brown, with a metalli¢ 
lustre. Throat, and forepart of the neck, reddish-white, 
bounded by a narrow list of black, which proceeds up- 
wards to the corners of the bill. Space between the eye 
and bill black. Breast clouded with brown. Under 
parts white, tinged with: pale buff-orange. Upper tail 
coverts white. Tail’ much. forked; the feathers a c,. 
except at their bases, which are white. Under wing- 
coverts brownish-red. Bill red at the base, with the 
typ black. TIrides reddish-brown. A naked circle round 
the eyes, red. Legs and feet brownish purple-red. 
