BllITAIN^S BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS. 59 

 THE WHIMBREL 



(Numenius ph£eopus). 



In appearance and habits this species may be described 

 as a small Curlew ; its eggs, also, differ mainly in 

 being smaller. It is chiefly a spring and autumn 

 migrational visitor to British coasts, but small numbers 

 remain with us both in summer and winter in some parts. 

 As a British-breeding species, it is confined to the Outer 

 Hebrides, Orkney, and Shetland, and is found more abund- 

 antly in the last-named group. Among its local names 

 are 'Half-Curlew,^ 'May-Bird,^ 'Titterel,' and 'Seven- 

 Whistler,' the last two referring to its ciy, which is 

 rather different from that of its larger relative, 



THE BLACK=TAILED QODWIT 



(Limosa belgica). 



The Black-tailed Godwit, a large, handsome Wader, with 

 a long, slightly upturned bill, formerly bred in the eastern 

 parts of England — in Norfolk down to 1847 or later — but 

 is now no more than a migrational or winter visitor to 

 British coasts. As such it is less common than its near 

 relative the Bar-tailed Godwit, which there is no reason to 

 regard as ever having been a British-breeding species. 



THE REDSHANK 



(Totanus calidris). 



Plate 20. 



With the Common Redshank, we come to those Waders 

 which are broadly spoken of as Sandpipers. Among 

 these the Redshank is rather a large bird, although itself 



