EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 133 



few minute specks of the same colour, are seen amongst the other 

 markings. The eggs vary considerably in shape, some being much 

 rounder than others, but they are usually pyriform ; they vary in 

 length from 2*8 to 2*45 inches, and in breadth from 195 to 1*75 

 inch. 



THE WHIMBREL. 

 (Nu menius p hceop us.) 



Plate 45, Figs. 1, 2. 



So far as is known, the only breeding-places of the Whimbrel 

 in the British Islands are in the Orkneys and Shetlands. The 

 species breeds in the Arctic regions of Europe and Asia, from 

 Scandinavia to the Petchora, but, like the Grey Plover, it appears 

 to be very local. 



The nest is very slight, a little hollow amongst the heath, or 

 under the shelter of a tuft of coarse grass, in a dry part of the 

 swamp, and is lined with a few scraps of dry herbage. 



The eggs are usually laid at the end of May, and from that date 

 they may be obtained until the end of June. They are four in 

 number, and are very similar to those of the Curlew. They are 

 olive-green of different shades or pale brownish-buff in ground- 

 colour, spotted and blotched with olive-brown or reddish-brown, 

 and with grey underlying markings. On some eggs most of the 

 spots take the form of an irregular zone round the large end, on 

 others they are evenly distributed over the entire surface ; whilst 

 some are only sparingly marked with large blotches and tiny 

 specks. They vary in length from 2*5 to 2*2 inches, and in 

 breadth from 1*75 to 1'6 inch. In actual bulk the eggs of the 

 Whimbrel are always smaller than those of the Curlew. It is 

 almost impossible to distinguish certain eggs of the Whimbrel 

 from some eggs f Richardson's Skua ; but as a rule those of the 

 latter bird are smaller and not so pointed at the small end. 



THE ESQUIMAUX CURLEW. 



(Numenius borealis.) 



Plate 45, Fig. 3. 



Six occurrences in the British Islands of the Esquimaux Curlew 



have been recorded. It has never occurred on the continent of 



Europe, being a strictly Nearctic species, breeding on the Ameri- 



