STONE-CURLEW. on 
have diminished considerably, but a few still breed 
annually about Westacre, Congham, and Lexham; and 
their eggs have been taken recently near Cressingham 
and Watton. At West Harling, though not in their 
former abundance, Mr. Ringer informs me that he has 
the last year or two met with from fifteen to twenty in a 
flock, frequenting the turnip-fields in the early autumn ; 
and this, in spite of the great extent of wood that has 
erown up on all sides in that district. From Thetford, 
their main stronghold,* as in days gone by, Mr. Bartlett 
writes, “I do not think the stone-curlew has decreased 
since I have been here, some twenty years. I see as 
many as ever, but plantations have got up in the 
neighbourhood year by year, tending to take from 
its wildness, and so diminish both the curlew and 
ring-dotterel. On my warren they are quite as numer- 
ous, when the season is favourable, but its bleakness 
is undiminished.” From the Feltwell country, also, 
I hear the same satisfactory account from my friend 
Mr. Newcome, who states that in the autumn of 1867 
he saw about a hundred and fifty in one flock on his 
own estate. From these facts, then, we may conclude 
that if, on the eastern side of the county the stone- 
curlew, in a few years time, should cease to be reckoned 
amongst our summer visitants, there is little fear that 
as regards the southern and western portions, its pre- 
sence in summer will still enliven the waste for many 
generations to come. 
* Mr. Hewitson is quite in error as to the position of this 
district, when alluding (“Brit. Bds.’ Eggs,” 3rd ed.) to the 
abundance of the stone-curlew in Norfolk and Suffolk, he says, 
“ Tt breeds upon the extensive sandy flats, which chiefly border upon 
the sea-shore.” The flat sandy borders of the Wash, are not, nor 
do I think ever were, frequented by this species, which prefers a 
more hilly country; and Thetford warren, though many miles 
inland, has attractions not only for the great-plover, but for its 
more marine relative, the ring-dotterel (Charadrius hiaticula.) 
I 
