430 The Natural History of Se I borne 



God in the creation as conspicuously as the bird before men- 

 tioned. These birds were the greater and lesser crested grebe, 

 podiceps cristatus et aitritus. What surprised me most was, 

 that the first of these birds was found alive on dry ground, 

 about seven miles from the sea, to which place there was no 

 communication by water. How did it get so far from the sea ? 

 its wings and legs being so ill adapted either to flying or walk- 

 ing. The lesser crested grebe was also found in a fresh water 

 pond which had no communication with other water at some 

 miles' distance from the sea. MARKWICK. 



STONE-CURLEW. 



ON the 27th of February, 1788, stone-curlews were heard to 

 pipe: and on March ist, after it was dark, some were passing 

 over the village, as might be perceived by their quick short 

 note, which they use in their nocturnal excursions by way 

 of watchword, that they may not stray and lose their com- 

 panions. 



Thus, we see, that retire whithersoever they may in the 

 winter, they return again early in the spring, and are, as it 

 now appears, the first summer birds that come back. Perhaps 

 the mildness of the season may have quickened the emigration 

 of the curlews this year. 



They spend the day in high elevated fields and sheep-walks ; 

 but seem to descend in the night, to streams and meadows, 

 perhaps for water, which their upland haunts do not afford 

 them. WHITE. 



On the 3ist of January, 1792, I received a bird of this 

 species which had been recently killed by a neighbouring 

 farmer, who said he had frequently seen it in his fields during 

 the former part of the winter : this perhaps was an occasional 

 straggler, which by some accident was prevented from accom- 

 panying its companions in their migration. MARKWICK. 



