performing the tooth-clearing operation the ancients attributed to it, and which many modern
writers have declared to be fabulous. Insects of all kinds, worms, small fish, mussels, and, according to some authorities, scraps of meat, and occasionally seeds, form the principal diet of the Crocodile-Watcher. Only once, in spite of all our endeavours, could we discover the carefully-concealed eggs. After many fruitless efforts our attention was attracted whilst looking through a telescope by a pair of birds, one of which was sitting in the sand, and the other running hither and thither in the immediate vicinity. Using every precaution we approached, but were no sooner observed than the brooding parent arose, and after going hurriedly to a short distance, joined its mate, and both together walked slowly from the spot with such a wonderful affectation of indifference, that we were completely taken in, and should not have carried our investigations any further had not a slight unevenness of the ground caught our eye. On removing the sand, two beautiful eggs were brought to light, having a reddish yellow shell, dotted and marked in a variety of ways.
.pdf.jpg.webp){kind=small} | An image should appear at this position in the text. To use the entire page scan as a placeholder, edit this page and replace "{{missing image}}" with "{{raw image|Cassell's book of birds (IA cassellsbookofbi04breh).pdf/28}}". Otherwise, if you are able to provide the image then please do so. For guidance, see Wikisource:Image guidelines and Help:Adding images. |
THE COLLARED PRATINCOLE (Glareola pratincola).
The PRATINCOLES, or SWALLOW-WINGED WADERS (Tracheliæ), are recognisable at
once by the swallow-like formation of their long wings, in which the first quill exceeds the rest in
length; by their long, straight, or forked tail composed of fourteen feathers, and their slender bare
legs. The toes, four in number, are very slender, the three in front are connected by a skin, and
furnished with narrow, sharp, and almost straight claws. The plumage, which varies but little either
in the sexes or at different seasons of the year, is very similar in all the species.
The Pratincoles, or Sea Partridges as they are called on the Continent, inhabit the temperate