2j6 numenius pileopus. 



the name of May-fowls ; but possibly the individuals which 

 arrived first may give place to others, so that during that 

 period there may be a succession of flocks. During their 

 stay they enliven these sandy pastures, and their departure 

 always seemed to me to leave a blank, not to be filled up 

 until next May, for they neither breed in any of those 

 islands, nor re-appear on their return southward. Their flesh 

 is delicate, superior in flavour to that of the Curlew, which 

 however is excellent, and more tender. I regret that I have 

 nothing more to say of them from personal observation, but 

 that they occur on the east coast of Aberdeenshire, both in 

 May and in autumn, but in small numbers. 



It appears from the statements of authors that this species 

 is met with in spring and the early part of summer along the 

 coasts of both sides of Britain, and again in autumn. Several 

 persons allege that it remains in diminished numbers through 

 the winter. It does not, however, appear that any occur at 

 that period in Scotland. Its occurrence inland in summer 

 must be very rare, as I have never met with an individual 

 elsewhere than on the sandy pastures along the sea-shore. 

 Mr. Selby informs us that it was seen on the margin of Loch 

 Sheen, in Sutherland, in the summer of 188-1 ; and others 

 have spoken of its visits to the Grampians. Mr. Low, who 

 does not distinguish it specifically from the Curlew, speaks 

 of it as common in Orkney, where it has since been observed 

 by Mr. Salmon. Dr. Fleming, Mr. Hewitson, and Mr. Dunn 

 state that it breeds in Shetland, whence it departs when the 

 breeding season is over. 



The eggs, which I have not seen, are described by Mr. 

 Yarrell as " four in number, of a dark olive-brown, blotched 

 with darker brown, pear-shaped, and very much like those 

 of the Curlew, but smaller, measuring two inches five lines 

 in length, by one inch eight lines in breadth." 



From Iceland, Norway, Lapland, Sweden, and Denmark, 

 where it breeds, it extends southward to Africa, being found 

 in the intermediate places in the course of its migrations. 

 It is probable that its distribution in Asia is very extensive, 

 as it has been found in the Caucasus, Japan, and various 

 parts of India. 



