ORIENTAL PRATINCOLE. 
middle of February [North Queensland]. In the spring of 1903-4 summer 
they arrived on 5th November, and for a few weeks following were here in 
large numbers.”* 
“As far as concerns this particular district, it is a most uncertain and 
irregular migrant and therefore a most unsatisfactory bird to observe [in North 
Queensland]. It is usually a late arrival, seldom putting in an appearance 
before the middle of December, though in 1903 it showed up in some numbers 
on 5th November. They do not remain long with us ; the latest date that 
I have seen them is 14th February 1903 — ^the same year as above, be it 
noted, but a different season. Some years they do not show up at aU, and 
others we get a call from the spring wave going South, but see nothing of them 
on their return journey. ”t 
Swinhoe (Z.c.) says they are common about the marshes near Takoo, 
where they most certainly breed. Blyth (l.c,) records it breeding sometimes 
in the neighbourhood of Calcutta. 
“ Towards the end of April, in both years that I was on the frontier of 
British Burma, these Pratincolas came into Tonghoo in large numbers for 
a few days on their way northwards. They might be seen every evening at 
dark hawking after insects among the houses on the river bank.”J 
“ The Swallow Plover is very common during the season of migration, 
arriving at the same time as the Golden Plover, Charadrius fulvus, but I 
never met with it at other times of the year. During March, and again in 
September and October, great numbers pass over the island of Singapore ; 
but they are then so tame that it is poor sport shooting them. Often they 
squatted so closely that I walked within a few yards before they would rise ; 
then they frequently settled again after flying a short distance. Perhaps 
this extraordinary tameness was owing to the fatigue occasioned by 
migrating. I noticed that they were generally found in large flocks on 
cultivated ground, and were particularly fond of ploughed land, mbre 
especially if it were on a hillside. ”§ 
“ Very large flocks pass through [the Lower Yangtse Basin] in April 
and May, and return again in August and September. A few stray birds may 
be met with in winter.’]] 
“ Passes Foochow in April and May. Obtained also during the autumn 
migration on the 19th of August, the 2nd of September, and in October. It 
is not a common migrant.”^ 
* Bemey, Emu, Vol. IV., p. 46, 1904. 
t id., ib., Vol. VI., p. Ill, 1907. 
$ Wardlaw Ramsay, Ibis 1877, p. 469. 
VOL. m. 
333 
§ Kelham, Ibis 1882, p. 6. 
II Styan, ib. 1891, p. 503. 
^ La Touche, ib. 1892, p. 496. 
