THE BLACK TERN 275 
me in Norfolk in the winter of 1861, and among them about half 
seemed full-grown ; of the others some were so small that, at the 
first glance, I supposed them to be Whimbrels. 
The Curlew is found on the sea-coast over the whole of Europe 
and Asia, and along the northern coast of Africa. 
The flesh of this bird is said by some to be excellent eating. This, 
perhaps, may be the case with young birds shot early in autumn 
before they have been long subjected to a marine diet. My own 
experience of birds shot in winter does not confirm this opinion. I 
have found them eatable, but not palatable. 
THE WHIMBREL 
NUMENIUS PHAOPUS 
General plumage pale ash-colour, mottled with white and dusky spots ; crown 
divided by a longitudinal streak of yellowish white; over each eye a 
broader brown streak ; belly and abdomen white, with a few dusky spots 
on the flanks; feathers on the back, and scapulars deep brown, in the 
middle bordered by lighter brown; rump white; tail ash-brown, barred 
obliquely with dark brown; bill dusky, reddish at the base; irides brown; 
feet lead-colour. Length not exceeding seventeen inches. Eggs dark 
olive-brown, blotched with dusky. 
THOUGH by no means a rare bird, the Whimbrel is of far less com- 
mon occurrence than the Curlew, and is seen only at two periods 
of the year, in May and August, when performing its migrations. 
It resembles the Curlew both in figure and habits, though much 
smaller in size; its note, too, is like the whistle of that bird, but 
somewhat higher. It is gregarious, but unsociable with other 
birds. The extreme southern limit at which the Whimbrel breeds 
is considered to be the Orkney and Shetland Islands. It is known 
to visit most of the countries of Europe and Asia in spring and 
autumn, but is nowhere very abundant. 
ORDER GAVIA 
FAMILY LARID/ 
Sus-Famity STERNIN/ZE 
THE BLACK TERN 
HYDROCHELIDON NIGRA 
Bill black ; feet purple-brown, the membrane short; head and neck black ; 
upper parts lead-colour ; under parts dark ash-grey ; under tail-coverts 
white ; tail not much forked, shorter than the wings ; irides brown. In 
winter, the lore, throat and breast are white. Length ten and a quarter 
inches. Eggs dark olive-brown, blotched and spotted with black. 
Tue Black Tern is a common bird in most temperate countries 
