from Upsala, under date of 3rd July, 1 7 7 4 “ Pratin-
colam antea non vidi; ad Orcdlcts spectat, et proprii generis
est.” Sundevall placed it among the Gaprimulgida, but
no other recent systematist of any note has removed it
from the Plovers, to whichiflfc has strong affinities. In its
flight it is also very Tern-like, especially when hovering
with extended wings ; hut when on the ground it runs %ith
a great rapidity. The note when the breeding-grounds are
invaded is a shrill kia, kict, kiaict, and the birds are very
fearless, swooping close to the intruder’s head: then, after
settling on the ground for a time, they recommence their
•evolutions ; hut they have llso a way of cowering over" the
ground with extended wings which by mo means indicates
the proximity of eggs or young. JTh® 'eggs, which in Spain
may he found from the beginning of May, although later in
some other localities, are frequently only two, hut sometimes
three in number, and are deposited with their axes parallel
upon the dry mud. The shell is thin ; the form -very oval;
the ground-colour, - of a huff or grey, mottled with spots of
dark brown, sometimes in the form of an irregular zone,
and measuring about 1*15 by ’9 in. In one instance Mr.
•Seebohm found a clutch of four eggs, but the case is quite
exceptional; and the fourth egg was probably the produce
of another female. The young, specimens of which 3 were
obtained byiLord Lilford, and figured in Gould! a ‘ Birdsi&f
Great Britain,’ run as soon'as!they leave the*'egg|-they are
white on the under parts, and clove-brown, with.'slight
mottlings, bn the upper. The food of this species is generally
obtained o n , the wing, although sometimes on the
ground, and .^consists of' insects*}.■.especially beetles, grasshoppers,
and locusts.
The beak is curved, and almdst black, and,.in the living
bird, the! edges of both mandibles, and the base of the llower
one, are bright scarlet-orange;' the'irides light brown;
• ;ther- head, hind-neck, back, scapulars,' wing-coverts, and
-tertials, nearly'uniform scioVe-brown; • primaries nearly
black; (-upper .tail-coverts white ; tail v®ry much forked, the
feathers white at the base, the other part dark brownishblack
: the outer feather on each side as long again as those
in the middle ; the chin white; the throat pale buff, with a
crescentic line of black ascending to each eye; breast
brownish-buff; belly, thighs, and under tail-coverts, huffish-
white; axillaries and under wing-coverts ruddy chestnut;
the legs reddish purple-brown.
In the young bird the clove-brown feathers of the back,
and the lying-coverts, secondaries and tertials; have pale
rufous margins ; the tail-feathers are shorter, and much
less forked; throat pale brown, the crescentic collar indicated
by dark brown spots; breast; varied; with two shades
of brown; belly, and under surface of the body, and tail-
feathers, greyfeh-white. ~
Jemales resemble the males. The whole length of an
adult bird is ten and a half inches. From the carpal joint
to the end of the first quill-feather, seven and a half inches.
The outline below represents' the breast-bone ^ of the
Pratincole, and,4® the double emarginafpn on each side of
the; keel, it will be found to resemble the breast-bones of the
Bustards and Plovers.