THE PRATINCOLE. 



301 



appearance, is usually very fat, but has a disagreeable taste and 

 marsh-like odour. Three species are known, only one of which is 

 found in this country, namely, the Coot {Fulica atra, Fig. 114), the 

 Foulque rtiacroule of French naturalists, veiy common in the north 

 of France and all quarters of the Old and New World ; the Crested 

 Coot (F cristata), sometimes a visitor to the South of Europe, and 



Pratincoles. 



differing very little from the Common Coot, but distinguished from 

 it by the red and prominent bony protuberances at the top of the 

 frontal plate ; and the Blue Coot, which is described as an inhabitant 

 of Portugal. 



The Pratincole (Glareola pratincola, Fig. 115) has the bill short 

 and curved, the tarsi long and slender, the middle toe joined to the 

 outer by a small membrane, the wings long and pointed, the tail 

 forked. They live in flocks on the banks of the Danube, the Volga, 

 and on the shores of the Black and Caspian Seas. They feed on 



