STONE-CURLEW. 61 
they should return northward, in such weather, at an 
unusually early period. 
My own opportunities of observing this species have 
been somewhat limited, but in May, 1864, in company 
with my friend Mr. Dix (who, as a resident at that time 
at West Harling, was well acquainted with their haunts), 
T had every facility, with the help of a good glass, for 
studying their habits in a wild state. In that neigh- 
bourhood, on the open “ Brecks,” the eggs are usually 
laid on some slightly rismg ground, whence a good look 
out is kept, and where it is almost impossible to come 
upon the birds by surprise. If the exact spot is known, 
long before any near approach can be made, the old bird 
may be seen to rise slowly to its feet, and with arched 
back, like a French partridge, walk slowly off for a few 
yards, when, if further pressed, the pace quickens, and 
joined probably by its mate, from you know not where 
—+so like are their tints to the surrounding soil—the pair 
rise on the wing, and with a strong quick flight, and 
outstretched legs, betake themselves to some distant part 
of the field, uttering at intervals their loud tremulous 
whistle. As ground-breeders they are necessarily ex- 
posed to many dangers, their eggs being so generally 
taken when discovered, and though carrion-crows are 
scarce in this game-preserving county, the rooks, 
especially in dry seasons, are scarcely less active as 
egg stealers. In this respect Mr. Dix considers that 
the eggs are safer when laid in the middle of a wide 
open field, than, as is often the case, when situated 
within some fifty yards of a large fir “slip” or planta- 
12th, 1867, a single bird is recorded as having been killed at Char- 
mouth, Dorset, on the 4th. To these may be added the still more 
strange occurrence of a solitary specimen in Fifeshire, on the 27th 
of January, 1858, as stated by Mr. W. P. Turnbull in his “ Birds 
of East Lothian,” which, according to that author, is the only one 
known to have appeared in that locality. 
