THE STONE CtTR],E\V. 479 



Britain it arrives early in tlic spring. The following is the earliest period recorded by 

 White: — "On the 27th of Febi-uary, 1788, stone-curlews were heard to pipe; and on 

 JFarcli 1st, after it was dark, some wore passing over the village, as might bo perceived 

 by their quick, short note, which they use in their nocturnal excursions by way of watch- 

 word, that they may not stray and lose their companions. Thus we see that, retire 

 whitliersoever they may in the winter, they return again early in the spring, and arc, as 

 it now a2:)pcars, the first summer birds that come back. Perhaps the mildness of the 

 season may have quickened the emigration of the curlews this year." They are seldom 

 seen after the beginning of October ; but Markwick states, that ho received, on the 31st 

 January, 1792, a bird of this species, which had been recently killed by a neighbouring 

 farmer, who said that he had frequently seen it in his fields (Sussex) during tKe former 

 part of the winter. This, porhai)s, adds Jlarkwick, was an occasional straggler, which, 

 by some accident, was prevented from accomijanying its companions in their migration. 

 As the autumn advances, these birds collect into flocks, soon after which they leave this 

 country. Norfoll^, Suffolk, Kent, and Hampshire seem to be the favourite counties of 

 the stone-curlew ; but it occurs, though rarely, in the Yorkshire AVolds, higher than 

 which it does not seem to go in these islands. Mr. Selby says, that he never met with it, 

 or heard of it in the more northern English counties, nor in Scotland. It docs not occur 

 in Mr. Thompson's Irish list in tlie "Zoological Proceedings." In the hands of a good 

 cook, this species is a delicate bird fcj.' the table. 



