WHIMBREL, 21 



materials of its composition, and it is scarcely hid 

 from view. 



The eggs are four in number, of a dark olive- 

 brown colour, blotted with darker brown. They are 

 wide at one end, and much narrower at the other, 

 and are placed in the nest with the pointed ends 

 inwards. They are considered good eating, and being 

 sought for on this account, the numbers of the birds 

 are diminished in consequence. The male and female 

 sit on them by turns. If disturbed from them, they 

 make great outcries to distract the intruder. The 

 young leave the nest as soon almost as hatched, and 

 quickly learn to skulk most warily on the approach 

 of danger. 



J. R. De Capel Wise, Esq., of Lincoln College, 

 Oxford, has forwarded me a beautiful specimen of the 

 egg of this bird. 



