THE BIRD-LIFE OF LONDON 
known whistling note, uttered quickly in succession, 
sounds faintly from the sky ; nearer and nearer the birds 
come, and the cries sound louder until they are more or 
less overhead for a few moments ; then as gradually they 
decrease in loudness, and finally cease as the flock hurries 
northwards in impetuous haste, to be succeeded by 
another and another, like racing specials, announcing their 
passage across the sky. So far as my experience goes, it is 
rarely that any of these’ north-bound Whimbrels alight 
within the area of the Metropolis ; the birds seem always 
too much in a hurry to linger by the way. The Arctic 
summer is short, the journey to the breeding-grounds 
is far, and a brood has safely to be reared and started 
on its way south before the polar world sinks into the 
lethargy of its long winter sleep. In autumn the con- 
ditions of the journey are vastly different. As soon as 
the young can fly even moderately well the southern 
passage begins, the birds gaining strength rapidly as they 
go, and the first individuals reach us in August. ‘The 
strenuous haste of the spring flight 1s replaced by a leisurely 
desire to take things easily, and consequently many Whim- 
brels alight here and there by the way. During August 
and September the flocks recross the Metropolis, young 
birds preponderating, and it is mostly individuals of the 
latter that are tempted to descend and rest on the water- 
side or the wet, marshy spots of Greater London. ‘These 
odd Whimbrels are by no means shy ; they are young and 
inexperienced in the ways of man, and too often pay for 
their trustfulness with their lives. ‘The Whimbrel is not 
known to breed anywhere on the mainland of the British 
Islands, but a few pairs nest on the Scotch islands. ‘The 
habits of the bird are very similar to those of the Curlew ; 
it nests in the same manner, and its four eggs are very 
similar, but much smaller. 
The Whimbrel so closely resembles the Curlew in 
general coloration that it is widely known amongst 
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