THE CURLEW 225 



coast in winter its diet is varied with small crabs, mollusks, 

 sand- worms, and insects. It is now exceedingly fat, and is 

 held in high estimation for the table. 



Very similar to the Curiew, both in its habits and appear- 

 ance, the Whimbrel {Numenius x>^iceo2ms) is a much rarer 

 and more local bird. It is characterised by its smaller size, 

 and the top of the head is dark brown, in strong contrast to 

 the pale eye-stripes and mesial line. It is most numerous in 

 spring and autumn, when great numbers pass along our coasts 

 to and from the north ; but a few remain behind all winter on 

 the mudflats — probably the birds that have bred on the 

 Scottish moors. In its food, habits, notes, and economy 

 generally, it does not differ much from the Curiew. In 

 summer I have seen small bunches of these birds feeding on 

 the shore, and noticed that at all times they are not quite so 

 shy as their larger congener. The Whimbrel breeds on the 

 moors near the sea. Its nest is a little hollow under a bush 

 or grass tuft, neatly lined with dry grass, and the eggs are 

 four in number. They resemble those of the Curiew in almost 

 every respect, but are smaller. Whimbrels migrate in laro-e 



o o 



flocks, and I have often seen them on the salt-marshes and 

 pastures near the sea in company with Curlews and some- 

 times with Knots. 



15 



