THE STONE CURLEW. 137 



which date seems to me rather late. They live with 

 us all the spring and summer, and at the beginning 

 of autumn prepare to take leave, by getting together 

 in flocks. They seem to me a bird of passage that 

 may travel into some dry hilly country south of us, 

 probably Spain, because of the abundance of sheep- 

 walks in that country; for they spend their summers 

 with us in such districts. This conjecture I hazard, 

 as I have never met with any one that has seen them 

 in England in the winter. I believe they are not 

 fond of going near the water, but feed on earth- 

 worms, that are common on sheep-walks and downs. 

 They breed on fallows and lay-fields abounding with 

 grey mossy flints, which much resemble their young 

 in colour, among which they skulk and conceal them- 

 selves. They make no nest, but lay their eggs on 

 the bare ground, producing in common but two at a 

 time. There is reason to think their young run soon 

 after they are hatched, and that the old ones do not 

 feed them, but only lead them about at the time of 

 feeding, which, for the most part, is in the night." 

 Thus far my friend. 



In the manners of this bird, you see, there is some- 

 thing very analogous to the bustard, whom it also 

 somewhat resembles in aspect and make, and, in the 

 structure of its feet. 



For a long time I have desired my relation to look 

 out for these birds in Andalusia ; and now he writes 

 me word that, for the first time, he saw one dead in 

 the market, on the 3rd of September. 



When the oedicnemus flies, it stretches out its legs 

 straight behind, like a heron. 



