186 BIRD GALLERY. 



No. 133. STONE-CURLEW or THICK-KNEE. 



(Qidicnemus CEclicnemus.) 



The Norfolk Plover, as this species is often called, is a summer 

 visitor to the southern and midland counties of England, and has been 

 known to nest as far north as Yorkshire ; it usually arrives in April 

 and dei)iirts in October, but some individuals pass the winter in South 

 Devon and Cornwall. It frequents downs, open heather, wastes, and 

 fallows, and feeds principally on worms, molluscs, and insects, but it 

 also eats small mnmmals, reptiles, and frogs. The two buff-colo>ircd 

 eggs, blotched and spotted with bi-own and grey, are laid in a slight 

 hollow scratched in the ground, often among sand and scattered stones. 

 When alarmed, the bird endeavours to conceal itself in a crouching 

 position, but if closely approached it runs swiftly away and ultimately 

 takes wing. 



Norfolk, May. 



Presented hij Lord JValsinghum. 



No. 134. CREAM-COLOURED COURSER. 



((!ursoriiis gallicus.) 



This species is an irregular straggler to Europe, and about a score of 

 individuals have been pi'oeured in Great Britain, chiefly in the southern 

 counties of England. Its true home extends from the Canary Islands 

 and North Africa, through South-western Asia, to India. It frequents 

 sandy districts, where the surroundings harmonize in colour with its 

 plumage and afford equal protection for its young and eggs. Tiie 

 latter, which are two in number and yellowish-buff, thickly spotted and 

 freckled with yellowish-brown and grey, are laid on the bare parts of 

 the desert, where the stones are mostly small. The male bird takes no 

 part in the duties of incubation, but is said to assist in caring for the 

 young. 



Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, March. 



Presented by E. G. B. Meade-Waldo, Esq. 



No. 135. COMMON HERON. (Ardea cinerea.) 



This species is generally distributed throughout the British Islands, 

 and during the breeding-season is usually met with in colonics, known 

 as heronries; but from August onwards it often leads a solitary 

 existence on the coasts and inland waters. Its nests are generally 



