. Fur and feather in North China. Hunting; Natural history. 148 THE WADING BIRDS OF NOIiTH CHINA. is believed that the dotterels fly from their winter resort in the south to their breeding grounds in Arctic regions in one continuous flight, without either rest or food. Closely allied to the plovers are the pratincoles, remarkable for their swift swallow-like flight. One species (Glareola onentalis) is very common in North Oiina, especially round Tientsin, where it may be seen in s\\arms flj^ing over the reeds, chasing and catching the grasshoppers and other insects. In appearance this bird is
. Fur and feather in North China. Hunting; Natural history. 148 THE WADING BIRDS OF NOIiTH CHINA. is believed that the dotterels fly from their winter resort in the south to their breeding grounds in Arctic regions in one continuous flight, without either rest or food. Closely allied to the plovers are the pratincoles, remarkable for their swift swallow-like flight. One species (Glareola onentalis) is very common in North Oiina, especially round Tientsin, where it may be seen in s\\arms flj^ing over the reeds, chasing and catching the grasshoppers and other insects. In appearance this bird is not unlike the dotterel, though it has a short thick beak, wide mouth, very long wings and a swallow tail. In colour it is of a dark grey-brown on the head, nape, back, wings and breast, shading off into white on the belly and rump. The throat is fawn, bounded by a black line as in the chukar, or red-legged partridge. The lower back and under wing surface are chestnut. These graceful birds oSer very sporting shots, but the flesh, though without that coarse flavour, so often noticeable in water birds, is slightly The Avocet {Rccurvirostra avocctta). Next to the plovers come the avocets, represented in North China by tha common avocet (Bccurv'irostrd aiuiccita). This is a most grace- ful bird with pied phnnago, long slender black legs, webbed feet and a long thin beak with a strong upward curve. In size it about equals the lapwing, though it is of a very much more slender Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Sowerby, Arthur de Carle, 1885-. Tientsin, The Tientsin Press, Limited
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, booksubjecthunting, booksubjectnaturalhistory