288 THICK-KNEED. Class II. 



of a pure white: the two firrt quil feathers are black, 

 marked on the middle of each web with a large 

 white fpot. 



The tail confifts of twelve feathers ; the tips of 

 the two outmoft are black, beneath is a broad white 

 bar, the remaining part barred with white and 

 duflcy brown: in the next feathers the white leflens-, 

 in the middle it almoft difappears, changing it 

 to a pale reddifh brown, mottled with a darker : 

 its mouth very wide : the legs c.re of a fine yellow : 

 the toes very fliort, bordered with a ftrong mem- 

 brane : the knees thick, as if fwelled, like thofe 

 of a gouty man j from v/htncc Be Ion gives it the 

 name of Oedicnemus *. 



This bird feems unknown in the weRern parts 

 of this kingdom ; but is found in Hampjhire^ Nor- 

 folk^ and on Lincoln heathy where, from a fimilarity 

 of colors to the curlew, it is called the Stone 

 Curlew. It breeds in fome places in rabbet bo- 

 roughs i alfo among ftones on the bare ground, 

 laying two eggs of a copper color, fpotted with 

 a darker red. The young run foon after they are 

 hatched. Thefe birds feed in the night on worms 

 and caterpillars : they will alfo eat toads ; and 

 Gefner fays they will catch mice, which is con- 

 firmed by Haffelqiiift, 



They make a mod piercing ihrill noife, which 

 they begin in the evening \ and are fo loud, as to 



* From oiJsoj, and ki/w/au. 



be 



