102 RALLID.E. 



The chosen locality of the Pratincole during its summer 

 residence in Europe, is in the extensive, sandy flats that are 

 covered with water during the winter, near lakes, rivers, and 

 ponds, where the vegetation is scant, and the ground open and 

 bare of trees or shrubs ; close to the water, or in the shallow 

 water it is not found, but low meadows, where cattle and sheep 

 feed in great numbers, seem to suit the habits of the bird 

 greatly, they are there seen running and flying about in large 

 flocks. When the bird retires to the sea-shore, it is only 

 for the purpose of awaiting the arrival of its companions, to 

 cross the Mediterranean twice a year, namely, in spring and 

 autumn. The French name for the Pratincole is " Perdrix 

 de Mer," but as this species has nothing to do either with 

 partridges or the sea, it is a very inappropriate one. In fact, 

 as this species bears so little resemblance to any other Euro- 

 pean bird, it is very difficult to locate it properly, and al- 

 though we have placed it between the sandpipers and the rails 

 we feel that it has not much claim to be there. 



The appearance of the Pratincole, when on the ground, 

 approaches that of the sandpipers most, with exception of 

 its lengthened wings and forked tail ; it hardly ever stands 

 still, unless it has reached a little lump of earth to rest upon 

 for a moment and to look around ; its motions on the ground 

 are more like those of our wagtails, inasmuch as it runs with 

 great velocity in quick short steps, and frequently flies up in 

 pursuit of its food. When anything startles the Pratincole 

 while engaged in pursuit of its food, it does not, however, 

 like the wagtails, raise its tail, but, on the contrary, beats it 

 twice or thrice on the ground, quite closed up, and soon after 

 takes wing. The flight of this interesting bird is exceedingly 

 beautiful ; it acts on the wing very much like the terns, 

 particularly the black tern (sterna nigra) ; its evolutions are 

 quick and graceful. When a flight of them passes through 



