422 



SCOLOPACID.^l 



The Curlew is found on the sea-coast over the whole of 

 Europe and Asia, and along the northern coast of Africa. 



The flesh of this bird is said by some to be excellent 

 eating. This, perhaps, may be the case with young birds 

 shot early in autumn, before they have been long subjected 

 to a marine diet. My own experience of birds shot in 

 winter does not confirm this opinion. I have found them 

 eatable, but not palatable. 



THE WHIMBREL. 



THE WHIMBREL. 



NUMENIUS PHiEOPUS. 



General plumage pale ash-colour, mottled with white and dusky spots ; crown 

 divided by a longitudinal streak of yellowish white ; over each eye a broader 

 brown streak belly and abdomen white, with a few dusky spots on the 

 flanks ; feathers on the back, and scapulars deep brown, in the middle bordered 

 by lighter brown ; rump white ; tail ash brown, barred obliquely with dark 

 brown ; bill dusky, reddish at the base ; irides brown; feet lead-colour. Length 

 not exceeding seventeen inches. Eggs dark olive-brown, blotched with dusky 



Though by no means a rare bird, the Whimbrel is of far 

 less common occurrence than the Curlew, and is seen only 



