Genus GLAREOLA.
G b h . C h a e . B e a k short, hard, co n v e x , cu rv ed fo r u pwa rds o f h a lf its len g th , and compressed
towards th e point. N os tr ils a t th e sides o f th e base, o b lon g, and o b liq u e ly cleft. L e g s
feathered n e a r ly to th e k n e e ; toes th ree before and one beh ind, th e outer united to th e
middle one b y a short mem b ran e; claw s lo n g and drawn to a fine point. Wings v e r y
larg e , th e first quill-feathe r th e longest. T a il more o r less forked.
COL LARED PRATINCOLE.
G la re o la torquata, Br is s .
L e Glar^ole a collier.
T h e genus Glareola appears to be strictly confined to the Old World, no Transatlantic example having ever
been discovered; nor, indeed, are we aware o f any form in the ornithology o f America which at aU approaches
the present. Three species are all that are as yet discovered. O f these, two (the G.graOaria and the
G. ¡acted) are peculiar to the eastern provinces o f Asia and A frica; the other, the hird now before us, is spread
throughout the warm and temperate regions, not only o f these continents, but Europe also: hence it would
beem as i f Nature endeavoured to make up by extent o f habitat for the limitation o f species. Still, however,
although thus diffused, the Pratincole may he said to he truly a native of the eastern provinces o f Europe, on
the Asiatic borders, and especially Hungary, where wide tracts o f morass and fiatlands, abounding in lakes
both fresh and saline, and traversed by mighty rivers, afford it food and security. “ In Hungary,” says
M. Temminck, “ among the immense morasses o f the lakes Neusidel and Balaton, I have been in the midst
o f many hundreds o f these b ird sS an d we may add, that it is no less abundant in Western Tartary. In
England it is only an occasional visiter; but in Germany, France and Italy it is a bird o f periodical
occurrence.
With the long wings and forked tail o f the Swallow, the Pratincole possesses that rapidity and power of
flight for which that bird is so remarkable. It takes its food, which consists o f insects, and especially such
as frequent marshes and the borders o f rivers, while on the wing, darting along in the chase with the rapidity
of an arrow ; nor is it less distinguishable for celerity on the ground, and often catches its prey as it nimbly
runs along.
This elegant and graceful bird incubates in the concealment afforded by reeds, osiers and tall herbage,
laying three or four white eggs.
As it respects their plumage, the sexes offer no difference. The young are more obscure in their tints, the
upper parts being clouded with dull brown, and the throat being dirty white.
The adult plumage may be thus detailed. Head, back of the neck, and whole o f the upper surface greyish
brown, except the secondaries, which are tipped with white, and the upper tail-coverts and the lower portion
o f the tail-feathers, which are white; quills and remaining portion o f the tail-feathers blackish brown; throat
and sides of the cheeks white with a wash o f buff, and bordered by a narrow black band, which takes its
origin beneath the e y e ; under wing-coverts deep ferruginous; chest brownish grey passing into pale fawn or
white ; abdomen dull white; beak black, except the base, which with the irides and circle round the eye are
reddish brown ; tarsi brownish ash colour.
Our Plate represents a male and female o f their natural size.