CHAPTER II 



THE STONE CURLEW OR THICK-KNEE 



The nest of the Stone Curlew, which comes to us 

 in April and leaves us in September, is a slight 

 hollow on the bare ground or turf, or it is to be 

 found among stones or pebbles. The eggs, as a 

 rule two in number, are greyish-brown or greyish- 

 yellow, dotted and spotted with purplish-grey and 

 dark brown. In form and colouring they nearly 

 resemble the eggs of the Oyster-catcher. The 

 young birds run directly they are hatched, and 

 they are covered with greyish down, with brown 

 cloudings. 



This fine bird, that appears to be a link between 

 the Bustards and the Plovers, although fairly dis- 

 tributed in the season, — for it is a migrant,- — is con- 

 fined to certain localities, principally to the eastern 

 and southern counties. It is, or at least was, 

 particularly abundant in Norfolk, and on this 

 account the name of Norfolk Plover was bestowed 

 on it. 



The bird in that county and in Suffolk finds its 

 favourite haunts unlimited — I write unlimited pur- 



9 



