104 RALLID.E. 



of the following genera : Melolontha, Scarabams, Cupris, 

 Apliodius, Hister, Carabus, Harpalus, Cincidela, etc., etc., 

 also the male beetle (gryllotapha), -which it obtains from 

 among the young wheat, grass, etc.; or on the wing where 

 such an opportunity offers., and when captured, the bird 

 holding its prize with its beak, beats it on the ground in 

 order to kill it, and to divest it as much as possible of its legs 

 and horny wing-coverts. 



Respecting the breeding of the Pratincole little is as yet 

 known, beyond the report of shepherds who have frequent 

 opportunity of finding the nest ; this is a slight construction 

 of dried grasses placed in a hollow on the ground beside some 

 wild flower or meadow production. The eggs are said to be 

 three or four in number, and are spotted with brown. By 

 the beginning of August, the young fly about with the adult 

 birds ; the parents, being very much attached to their young 

 brood, accompany them until the beginning of September, 

 when they one and all think of returning, and going south- 

 ward for the winter. 



The measurements of this species differ greatly according 

 to age, owing to the growth of the tail, which varies nearly 

 one inch between old and young birds. The adult measures 

 about ten inches, the young only nine, to nine inches 

 three lines. Some instances of very old males are on record 

 which measured ten inches and a half, and a trifle more, 

 in consequence of the greater length of their tail-feathers. 

 The head is rather bulky towards the hinder part, and 

 tapering towards the beak ; the eyes are very far from the 

 beak and wide apart, the forehead flat ; the neck short and 

 thick ; the tarsi and tibia almost of equal length ; the carpus 

 is short, and the quills very long in proportion, the outer 

 tail-feathers exceed the two middle feathers by nearly two 

 inches and a half in length, the tail is therefore much 



