Family GLAREOLIDiE. 



THE PRATINCOLE. 



Glareola pratincola (Linnaeus). 

 Plate 62. 



This beautiful species, which in some of its habits takes after the Plovers, 

 though its manner of flight resembles that of the Swallows and also the smaller 

 Terns, is a rare straggler to the British Islands, some twenty occurrences having 

 been recorded in England, mostly in the eastern, southern, and south-western 

 counties. It seldom visits Scotland, where only four have been noted, whilst one 

 is said to have been shot in Ireland. 



The Pratincole is a common bird in many parts of Southern Europe, breeding 

 in Spain, South-eastern France, Sicily, and eastwards as far as the Black and 

 Caspian Seas ; it also inhabits North Africa, and ranges to Turkestan, Persia, and 

 India. 



The two or three eggs, which are thin-shelled and extremely fragile, are in 

 ground colour buff or slaty-grey, spotted and streaked with very dark brown. They 

 are usually laid on the open expanses of hard and sun-baked mud left exposed after 

 the waters of the previous winter have dried up. At this time the birds are bold 

 and fearless and allow a close approach, but otherwise are generally shy and take 

 wing at some distance. 



Lord Lilford says {(Coloured Figures of the Birds of the British Islands) : " In 

 flight, cry, and general habit of life the present bird much resembles the Marsh- 

 Terns, and its eggs have a certain resemblance to those of some of that group," 

 whilst it " frequently cowers with extended wings on the bare ground without 

 any apparent cause, and as frequently lies upon its side with one wing partially 

 elevated." Towards dusk the birds become very active, and continue hawking till 

 long after dusk for the beetles, grasshoppers, and other insects on which they feed. 

 Seebohm describes their note as " a peculiar rattle, impossible to express on paper ; 

 but the principal sound may be represented by kr rapidly repeated." The young, 

 like the Plovers, are active, and can run about shortly after leaving the egg. At 

 first they are mottled brown and buff above, with white underparts. 



The adult male and female are alike in colour. 



6 



