WHIMBREL 367 
summer ;! towards the end of July these are joined by 
migrants journeying from more northern latitudes. During 
August, the birds continue to increase in numbers, and by 
Se ptember they are plentiful on many parts of the British 
coast. The autumnal passage is of brief duration, indeed 
in October the numbers have considerably diminished. A 
month later the great majority have travelled southward, 
and between December and May this species rarely occurs 
on the British coast. 
In its general habits it rather resembles the Curlew. 
It is, however, less suspicious of danger, and may be seen 
feeding leisurely on the strand after flocks of Curlews, 
sounding the signal of alarm, have taken flight. Hence the 
popular notion that this more innocent species is the young 
ot the Curlew. 
In spring, Whimbrels usually keep to themselves when 
feeding, and are then fairly tame. Soon after their arrival 
in May, large flocks can, as a rule, be closely approached 
on the open strand. Their dull brownish-grey plumage 
harmonises so closely with the dark ooze and broken rocks 
that many of them may be overlooked. 
In autumn they are usually gregarious, consorting on 
the shores with Redshanks, Godwits, Curlews, and many 
of the smaller wading- birds.’ 
I have observed this species flying high in the air over 
grouse-moors and inland marshes, apparently migrating. 
ie accordance with this observation, Mr. Ussher has noted 
that the Whimbrel migrates along the great Irish lakes in 
spring, distributing itself widely over the midland bogs. Even 
during its short t stay on our shores in spring and autumn, this 
bird is not safe from the attacks of the Peregrine falcon 
especially if the eyrie of the latter is not far off and contains 
' During successive seasons I have noticed small numbers of Whim- 
brels throughout June and July on the slob-lands of Dublin Bay. From 
the middle of July they rapidly increase in numbers, and in this locality 
they are fairly plentiful until the first week in October. 
In the Outer Hebrides a solitary bird remained from the summer of 
1889 continuously through the seasons to 1893 (Dr. M‘Rury, Ann. Scot. 
Nat. Hist., vol. ii., p. 116). As suggested by Mr. Harvie-Brown, it may 
have been slightly wounded. 
* At low water I have seen Whimbrels resting on seaweed-covered 
rocks with Turnstones, Purple Sandpipers, Redshanks, Curlews, and 
Oyster-catchers, the group being occasionaliy accompanied by a Cor- 
morant or Heron. 
