46 BRITISH BiUDS' NESTS. 



lit'DKirl-H. — Resident, but resorting to tlie coast- 

 line during winter. Notes : curlew, curhir, uttered 

 something like gurlecJi, (j/irlec/,-, when the bird is 

 alarmed. Local and other names : Wliaap, or 

 Whaup, Stock Whaap. A very light sitter. 



CURLEW, STONE. AI.w Nohfolk Plover, Geeat 

 Plover, (ukI Thicknee. 



Description of Pcu-eiit Birds. — Length about 

 seventeen inches. Bill, short compared with that 

 of the Common Curlew, strong, nearly straight, 

 greenish-yellow at the base, and black at the tip. 

 Irides golden-yellow. A light-coloured streak runs 

 from the base of the beak, under the eye, to the 

 ear-coverts, followed by a brown one running in 

 the same direction below it. Crown, nape, and 

 back of neck light brown, streaked w4th black. 

 Back, wings (except primaries, which are nearly 

 black, with a wdiite patch on the end of the first 

 and second feathers), and upper tail-coverts light 

 brown, each feather having an elongated blackish- 

 brown centre. Upper half of tail-quills of two 

 shades of brown, producing a mottled effect, followed 

 by a band of wdiite and a black tip. Chin and 

 throat white ; front of neck and breast very light 

 brown, streaked with blackish-brown ; belly and 

 sides nearly white, streaked with brown. Yent 

 and under tail-coverts creamy-white, unmarked. 

 Legs and toes yellow ; claws black. 



The female is very much like the male in her 

 plumage. 



Situation and Localit/j. — On the ground in 

 warrens, on downs, heaths, and dry commons, 

 principally in Norfolk and Suffolk, but found in 



