LETTER XVI. 



To the 



SELBORNE, April i8M, 1768. 

 EAR SIR, The history of the stone-curlew, 

 Charadrius osdicnemus, is as follows. 1 It 

 lays its eggs, usually two, never more than 

 three, on the bare ground, without any 

 nest, in the field ; so that the countryman, 

 in stirring his fallows, often destroys them. 

 The young run immediately from the egg, 

 like partridges, &c., and are withdrawn to some flinty field by 

 the dam, where they sculk among the stones, which are their 



1 These remarks are obviously called out by a question from Pennant 

 respecting the stone-curlew mentioned in the last letter. ED. 



