LIMIC0L.1i. 



WHIMBREL. 



507 

 SCOLOPACIDJi. 



NuMENius PH^opus (Linnaeus*). 

 THE WHIMBREL. 

 Numenius phceopus. 



In its plumage, its haunts, habits, and food, the Whimbrel 

 very closely resembles the Curlew last described, but is by 

 no means so numerous as a species, and is also very con- 

 siderably smaller in size, — so much so, that it has in some 

 counties obtained the names of Half-Curlew and Jack- 

 Curlew in reference to its diminished comparative propor- 

 tions. Though to be seen occasionally on many parts of 

 our shores in winter, it is generally most plentiful in May : 

 so much so that both in Norfolk and in Cornwall it is known 

 as the *' May-bird " : and again in autumn, when these birds 



* Scolopax Phceopn3, Linnteus, Syst. Nat. Ed. 12, i. p. 243 (176(>). 



