THE LIVING WORLD. 
395 
IRISH SANDER LING. 
The Marsh Swallow ( Glareola pratincola ) is a singular bird, combining, 
as it does, the characteristic of both swallow and plover, so that no appropriate 
classification has been found for it. The tail and wings are like a swallow’s, 
and the mouth resembles that of the goat-suckers, though its habits are those 
of a marsh plover. It is found chiefly along the Mediterranean. An illustra¬ 
tion of this bird will be found in the matter describing the swallow species, 
over the title of “ fallow swallow.” 
The Scabbard-bill ( Chionis minor ) is 
another bird with conflicting characteristics, 
so many dissimilarities appearing that it 
has been variously classed with pigeons, 
quails, gulls and sandpipers. The latter 
classification is now generally accepted, though 
rather by reason of its habits than because 
of any of its appearances. By some it is 
called the short-billed snipe. The head is 
certainly that of a pigeon, and the bill is 
short and thick, presenting a peculiarity, 
however, in having a sheath issuing from 
the base, and covering half the length of 
the bill. Mr. Darwin is the only person who has given us an account of 
this bird based on personal observation. It is an inhabitant of Patagonia and 
Southern Brazil. It nests on the ground, and produces two broods each 
year. The color of .this bird is pure white, the bill is black, and a part of 
the face is covered by the base of the sheath. 
The Seriema ( Dicholopus cristatus) is an Aus¬ 
tralian bird bearing some resemblance to the crested 
crane but more to the secretary bird, to. which it 
seems to be related as closely as cousinship, at 
least. The legs are long and the seriema can use 
them to such good purpose that it may attain the 
speed of a horse. The head is decorated with a 
crest composed of a dozen feathers, which the bird 
raises and lowers rapidly when excited. It rarely 
enters the water but is never found far from a 
stream or morass. 
The Sultan Hen (. Porphyriv smaragdonotus ) is 
scabbard-bile. found about the lagoons and marshy districts of 
northern South America. It is about three feet in 
height, has very long legs not fitted for speed, however, is of a dun color, 
thick bill, and a bony crest <on the head, which is a provision no doubt to pro¬ 
tect its head against the brush through which it creeps, the same natural pro¬ 
tection being on the head of the helmeted cassowary. It is a poor flyer, and 
therefore keeps about the dense sedges. Its food is small fishes, reptiles an 
insects, in which respects it does not differ from the bitterns. This bird, . °V~ 
ever, occasionally takes to the water, and though its toes are not webbed it is 
said to be a fairly good swimmer. In its nesting habits it resembles the water 
hen, laying usually six eggs of a pale greenish hue m a nest constructed of 
coarse grass, located generally on the edge of a marsh. 
