311 



THE COMMON THICK-KNEE. 



(Edicnemus crepitans. 

 PLATE XXIV. 



Charadrius oedicnemus, Linn. (Edicnemus crepitans, CEdie- 



neme criard, Temm Thick-kneed Plover or Bustard, 



Great or Norfolk Plover, Stone Curlew, Common Thick- 

 knee of British authors. 



WE trace the alliance in this bird to the Bustards, 

 in its frequenting extensive and open downs, and 

 in its laying, generally, only two eggs, of a form 

 varying from the peculiar outline of the Plovers, 

 Dotterels, and some of their allies. Some of the 

 foreign species also stand equal in height to some 

 of the intermediate sized Indian and African Bus- 

 tards. As one of its names implies, the sandy plains 

 of Norfolk are a favourite and abundant locality 

 for this bird, where it periodically arrives and 

 breeds. It is found in many other southern and 

 eastern counties, but no where so abundantly. It 

 is found more sparingly in Lincolnshire and Lan- 

 cashire. Mr. Yarrell states, " farther north than 

 Yorkshire I do not trace it." We have no record of 

 its appearance farther north, or of its being ever 



