are over, they all alight one by one on the ground. Some stand quite still, watching with inquiring gaze ; while 
others stretch themselves out, first expanding one wing, then the other, and, sitting down, extend both legs. 
In this position they remain some seconds, as if dead, when suddenly springing up they make another circuit 
overhead, and the whole flock passes quietly away. The Pratincole makes no nest, but deposits its three 
eggs in a slight depression of the bare sand. They are usually placed Avith their axes parallel. We 
several times visited places where numbers of these birds were breeding, yet we never succeeded in finding 
a young one, though many of the eggs Avere on the point of being hatched. This fact favours the idea that 
on leaving tlie egg the young are capable of running like those of other Grallce. The Pratincoles often 
attracted my attention by their Incessant cries and furious attacks, as if resenting my intrusion on their 
domain.” 
Col. Drummond-Hay Informs me that he frequently observed the Pratincole skimming and hovering over 
the marshy jflains about thirteen miles from Tangier, where it breeds ; but never suav the bird in any other 
part of Eastern Morocco. To this gentleman I am also indebted for the following note, which he obligingly 
procured for me from M. Francois Favier, a French naturalist, resident in Tangier : — 
“ Here the Pratincole usually deposits its eggs during the month of May, in the small depressions made 
by the feet of animals, in meadows which are OA^erfloAved in winter. A second laying seems to take place in 
July, as recently hatched young birds are found in June and August.” 
The egg figured by Mr. Hewitson is of an olivaceous stone-colour, spotted with dark brown ; but he says 
that the ground-colour is frequently much darker than in the one represented in his work. 
Lieut. Sj)erling says : — “ Whilst boar-shooting on the Plain of Sharon, I shot some Pratincoles. There 
were a great many of them hawking for insects over the fields, flying at a height of about twenty feet, and 
continually uttering a sound between a low scream and a Avhistle. The stomach of one I examined was very 
full of coleopterous and other insects. I rather think they catch as many on the ground as on the wing ; for 
they frequently settle, and run with all the ease of a Plover. They roost on the ground, and fly late at 
night, their large eyes being well adapted for seeing in the dusk.” 
The Rev. H. B. T ristram states that “ the Pratincole {Glareola pratmcola) disappears from Palestine in 
winter, but returns in great numbers to all the marshy plains in spring, when we found them on their 
breeding-grounds, Avhere they can be shot in any numbers, as they keep hovering over the intruders, 
undismayed by repeated discharges of the gun. As in Africa, they lay their eggs in a footprint in 
the barest spots, Avithout the slightest nest ; they are ncA^er found where there is a vestige of v^egetation, 
and, from their great similarity to the pebbles and bits of clay around, are very difficult to discover, Avhile 
the bird employs all the artifices of a Lapwing to decoy the spoiler from them.” 
In the note from Lord Lilford accompanying the chicks aboA’^e mentioned, he says : — “ The two young 
Pratincoles were taken in the great marshes on the Guadalquivir, in June 1869, and had only left the 
eggs a few hours. They were brought to me alive ; and I can positively state that they run immediately 
after being hatched. Pratincoles are very abundant in spring and summer in the locality above mentioned. 
The flight and cry of these birds, their habit of hawking for insects on the Aving, and the colour of their 
eyes forcibly reminded me of the Terns.” 
About the beginning of August the young birds fly about Avith the adults, which, being very much 
attached to their progeny, accompany them until the commencement of September, Avhen they all moA^e 
southward for the Avinter. Their flight is described as of extraordinary rapidity; and their evolutions are 
said to be exceedingly graceful, quick, and beautiful. “ When a flight passes through the air within sight, 
they proceed very swiftly, and on loAvering to alight they shoot like arroAA^s by one another ; finally they once 
more open their wings to their full length, raise them highly, and then settle, rather closely spread, OAer 
the ground.’’ 
The sexes do not appear to differ in their colouring, and but little in size. 
The Plate represents the tAvo sexes and the young, of the size of life. 
I have figured four young birds, under the impression that, as Avlth the Plovers, this Avas the normal 
number ; but Lord Lilford is of opinion that three Avould have been more correct. 
