6 



(J. ft O. 1862, p. 423) says that he only saw one pair on the Balearic Islands, where it is an 

 extremely rare species. Bailly records two instances of its occurrence in Savoy; and in 

 Northern and Central Italy it appears to be of somewhat rare and exceptional occurrence ; 

 but in Sicily, especially in the south, where the nature of the ground is suitable to its habits, 

 it is abundant, and breeds there. Mr. A. B. Brooke records it as sometimes met with in Sar- 

 dinia (Ibis, 1873, p. 338) during migration, but rare. I have a series of specimens obtained at 

 Malta by Mr. C. A. Wright. Lord Lilford met with it in the Ionian Islands, and says (Ibis 

 1860, p. 239) that it "arrives in Corfu and Epirus in considerable numbers in April, and 

 remains a few weeks in the country. I have found that, though these birds are not easy to 

 approach by walking straight at them, they will squat if one makes a circuit round them 

 gradually lessening the distance, and will allow themselves to be nearly trodden upon before 

 taking wing. Large numbers frequent the racecourse at Corfu in April. The Corfiote name 

 for this species is ' Pemice di mare.' The food of the Pratincole appears to consist almost 

 exclusively of various species of beetles." In Greece, according to Lindermayer, numbers 

 arrive after the sequinoctial gales; and most pass north, though a few remain to breed in 

 Northern Greece. In September they pass again. On the islands they occur during winter, 

 but not in summer. In Southern Germany it is rare ; and Dr. Anton Fritsch only records the 

 occurrence of one (J. f. O. 1871, p. 384) in Bohemia, a specimen having been obtained near 

 Pardubick in May 1862. On the Lower Danube, however, it appears to be common, though I 

 did not observe it when there, being probably too early in the season, as I left in May; but 

 Dr. Finsch speaks (J. f. O. 1859, p. 385) of hundreds breeding in the islands of the Danube. 

 Messrs. Elwes and Buckley obtained a specimen from Mr. Bobson which had been shot near 

 the Bosphorus ; but, judging from the fact that all the specimens sent to me by Mr. Bobson 

 belong to Glareola melanoptera, it appears to be rare there. It is difficult to define its range in 

 Southern Russia, as it is possible that some authors refer to G. melanoptera under the name 

 belonging to the present species. Von Nordmann appears not to have distinguished between 

 the two species, but says that a Pratincole, which he calls Glareola pratincola, is abundant in 

 the districts bordering the Black Sea and Caspian; and Mr. H. Goebel (J. f. O. 1871, p. 137) 

 speaks of the Pratincole being numerous in the province of Cherson, especially on the sea-coast ; 

 and in the autumn, when they are found in flocks of several hundred individuals, and are 

 very tame, large numbers are killed. The present species is found in Asia Minor, and breeds 

 numerously outside Smyrna, and likewise occurs in Palestine, where, according to Canon 

 Tristram (Ibis, 1868, p. 322), it " disappears in winter, but returns in great numbers to all the 

 marshy plains in spring, when we found them on their breeding-grounds, where they can be 

 shot in any numbers, as they keep hovering over the intruders, undismayed by repeated dis- 

 charges of the gun." 



In Africa it extends far south during the winter season, and has a most extensive range on 

 that continent. Captain Shelley says that it " arrives in Egypt in great numbers about the 

 middle of April. I first met with it near Assouan on the 15th of that month, and afterwards 



saw it in great abundance as I descended the Nile Probably the larger portion of these 



flocks do not remain in the country to breed, but pass on into Europe, returning again in 

 October or November on their way south." It occurs at Kordofan, Sennaar, and, according 



