The Whimbrel 



a much smaller species. Length 17*5 in.; bill 3*4 in.; 

 wing 10 in. 



THE ESKIMO CURLEW 



Numenius borealis (J. F. Forster) 



The home of this bird is iu Arctic America, and some 

 eight or nine examples have been procured in this country. 



In appearance it is rather like a small Whimbrel, but it 

 may be recognised by the absence of barring on the primaries, 

 no white on the rump, transverse arrow-head markings on 

 the under parts, and the axillaries being chestnut barred 

 with brown. Length 14 in.; wing 8*25 in. 



THE BLACK TERN 



Hydrochelidon nigra (Linnaeus) 



Up till the middle of last century the Black Tern was a 

 regular summer visitor to our shores, remaining to breed in 

 the fens and marshes of England. For the last forty years, 

 however, it has only occurred on passage, the adult birds 

 passing through in April and May, and flocks in immature 

 plumage being found along the east coast in the autumn. 

 To the west of England and Scotland it is a very irregular 

 visitor, and the same may be said of Ireland. 



It nests in colonies on inland marshes, the nest being an 

 accumulation of decaying vegetation floating on the surface 

 of the water. The eggs, three in number, are olive green 



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