272 THE NESTS AND EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



from the eggs the moment its haunt is invaded, and 

 either flying wildly and noisily about, often in company 

 with its mate, or running restlessly about the moor from 

 hummock to hummock. It will also indulge in various 

 antics to entice an intruder away. 



Range of egg colouration and measurement : 

 The eggs of the Greenshank are four in number, and 

 pyriform in shape. They vary from buffish-white to 

 buff in ground colour, very handsomely blotched and 

 spotted with rich dark brown, and with underlying 

 markings, similar in character, of pinkish-brown and 

 gray. As usual the markings are most numerous and 

 extensive on the larger end of the ^'gg. A somewhat 

 scarce variety is not blotched, but marked with large 

 and small spots over most of the surface ; more fre- 

 quently the markings form an irregular zone round the 

 larger end of the egg. Average measurement, I'g inch 

 in length, by 1-35 inch in breadth. Incubation, per- 

 formed chiefly by the female, lasts about three weeks. 



Diagnostic characters : The size and bold dark 

 markings readily distinguish the eggs of the Greenshank 

 from those of allied species breeding in our islands. 



Family CMARADRIID/E. Genus Numenius. 



Sub-family TOTANIN.-E. 



COMMON C U R L E W. 



Numenius arquatus {Li)incEus). 



Single Brooded. Laying season, latter end of April and in 



May. 



British breeding area: The Curlew is pretty 

 generally distributed throughout the British Islands in 



