62 BIRDS OF NORFOLK. 



celebrated John Ray, taken from a specimen killed near 

 Thetford,"^ and from which no doubt the figure in 

 Willughby's "Ornithology" (Tab. Ixxvii.) was engraved. 

 Sir Thomas also, in his list of Norfolk birds, describes 

 this species as " a handsome tall bird remarkably eyed, 

 and with a bill not above two inches long, commonly 

 called a stone-curlew, but the note thereof more 

 resembles that of a green plover, and breeds about 

 Thetford, about the stones and shingles of the river." 

 But although at that time, as at the present day, this 

 species was most numerous in the western and south- 



* I am greatly indebted to the Eev. H. B. Tristram for the sight 

 of a very scarce little work, entitled — " A Collection of English 

 Words not generally used. * * * With Catalogues of English 

 Birds and Fishes. By John Ray, Fellow of the Eoyal Society." 

 London, 1674, 8vo., pp. 178. In the preface, with reference to the 

 "catalogue of English birds," occurs the following passage: — "Since 

 this catalogue was sent away to the press, among some pictures of 

 birds which I have received from the learned and deservedly 

 famous Sir Thomas Browne, of ISToi-wich, I find two or three English 

 birds by me omitted, as whereof I was not certain. CEdicnemus 

 Bellonii by him also first observed in England. Upon the picture 

 of it sent to me by Sir Thomas, I find inscribed ' a stone-curlew, 

 from about Thetford, whereabouts they breed. It hath a remark- 

 able eye and note somewhat like a green plover.' " In Ray's 

 preface to Willughby's " Ornithology," Sir Thomas's contributions 

 are also duly acknowledged, but from the following extract from a 

 letter of that learned physician to his son Edward, dated March 

 28th, 1682 (see Wilkin's edition of his works, vol. i., p. 337), we 

 find the former complaining of the unnecessary detention of his 

 drawings : — " When Mr. Ray (he writes) was to print his omi- 

 thologie or description of birds, I lent him many draughts of birds 

 in colours, which I had caused at times to bee drawne, and hee and 

 Sir Phillip Skippon promised mee that they should bo safely 

 returned ; butt I have not since received them. Butt they wei*e 

 left in Mr. Martyn's hands, therefore present my services unto Mr. 

 Martyn (bookseller, at the bell, St. Paul's churchyard), and desire 

 him from mee, to deliver the same unto you, and I shall rest 

 satisfied." 



