13S 



GLAREOLA. PRATINCOLE. 

 Generic Character. 



Rostrum basi rectiusculum, 

 validum, versus apicem 

 compressum, apice incur- 

 vum. 



Nai^es lineares obliquoe. 



Rictus am pi us. 

 Pedes tetradactyli, digilis basi 

 membrana cofiiiexis, 



Cauda forficata, rectricibus 

 duodecim. 



Beak straight at the base, 

 strong, compressed, and in- 

 curved towards the tip. 



Nostrils linear and placed ob- 

 liquely. 



Gape very wide. 



Feet with four toes^ connected 

 together by a membrane at 

 the base. 



Tail forked, consisting of 

 twelve feathers. 



TThE only species of this genus known to Lin- 

 naeus was placed by him amongst the Hirundines, 

 but many subsequent writers have transferred it 

 from thence and placed it among the water birds, 

 to which it has not the least affinity, except in 

 having rather long legs, which are bare of feathers 

 a little above the knee ; whereas it has the entire 

 habit of the Swallow tribe, especially in the shape 

 of the wings and tail ; and like them it resorts to 

 rivers and such like places in search of insects, on 

 which it feeds, and for the purpose of building its 

 nest. 



