GREAT CURLEW AND WHIMBREL 71 



THE WHIMBREL. 



i^Numenius phcBOpiis.) 



Male. — The bill black ; base of lower mandible 

 pale brown ; iris brown. Upper part of head dark 

 brown, with a central streak of brownish-white, 

 mottled with dusky colour, and on each side a streak 

 of the same passing over the eye ; eyelids and chin 

 whitish. Sides of head and neck greyish-white, 

 streaked with brown ; fore-part of back, scapu- 

 lars, and wing coverts dusky, with whitish spots. 

 Primary quills dusky, spotted along both margins 

 with white ; hind-part of back white ; tail and 

 coverts greyish-white, barred with dusky colour. 

 Fore-part of breast streaked with dusky colour ; 

 hind-part of breast and belly white ; legs and feet 

 blue grey. Length, from bill to tail, seventeen 

 inches. 



