THE STORY OF THE BIRDS. 
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coursers, the pratincoles feed almost exclusively on insects. They frequent 
sandy plains or marshes, and the banks of rivers and lakes, as well as lagoons. 
At all times of the year they associate in flocks, although each male selects 
but a single partner. The common pratincole is a small bird measuring 
GREEN AND ORANGE BARBET. 
GROOVE-BILLED 
BARBET. 
LONG TAILED ARACARI. 
LONG-BILLED 
TOUCAN. 
CURUCUI. PUFF-BIRD. SOUTH AMERICAN. GREEN CURUCUI. 
PUFF-BIRD. 
from 9 to io inches in length, and inhabiting the warmer parts of Europe, 
Asia, and Africa; an occasional straggler rarely reaching the British Islands. 
In color most of the upper parts are clove-brown; the primaries nearly 
black; the upper tail-coverts white; the feathers of the deeply-forked tail 
