508 SCOLOPACID^. 



are on their way to and from the northern localities, to which 

 they resort during the hreeding-season. 



Some non-breeding individuals remain on the mud-flats 

 throughout the summer, but even those which have gone 

 north do not tarry long, and by the latter part of July the 

 return migration has set in. At this season, says Mr. 

 Cordeaux, and also Mr. Hele, the birds pass at an immense 

 height, and are only to be distinguished by their call-note. 

 Unlike the Curlew, they seldom or never strike the lanterns 

 of light-houses. The young birds arrive first ; the old ones, 

 as a rule, afterwards, owing to the delay caused by their 

 moult. 



In Ireland, where the Whimbrel is more abundant in the 

 spring than in the autumn migration, none have ever been 

 known to breed, nor does there appear to be any well- 

 authenticated instance of the nesting of this species on the 

 mainland of Scotland. It is not even known to nest in the 

 Hebrides, although it passes through them in spring ; but 

 in the Orkneys it breeds regularly, and also in the Shetlands. 

 The Editor observed a pair on Noss, which evidently had 

 young very near ; and Saxby says that on Yell and Has- 

 cosea it still breeds almost as abundantly as at the time of 

 Hewitson's visit. It leaves as soon as breeding is over. 



In the Fseroes, where, as already observed, it replaces the 

 Curlew as a breeding species, the Whimbrel is very common 

 from the middle of April to the end of September, and from 

 the 25th of May onwards Major Feildcn obtained twelve 

 nests, each with four eggs. On the 16tli June he found a 

 nest, also "^dth four eggs, close to a rill, between two blocks of 

 stone, which just gave room for the bird to squeeze between. 

 This experience is interesting, as Hewitson was under the 

 impression that the complement of eggs was three. The 

 nest is a mere depression, and the eggs, which average 2"4 

 by 1'55 in., are pear-shaped, of a peculiarly transparent 

 olive-green blotched and flecked with brown. The "Whim- 

 brel is a pugnacious bird, and the Editor has seen it fear- 

 lessly attack Richardson's Skua in the same way as 

 Major Feilden described it as driving oft' the Lesser Black- 



