Stone- 



p . The history of the stone curlew is as follows : 



It lays its eggs, usually two, never mere than three, 

 on the bare ground, without any nest, in the field, 

 so the countryman in stirring his fallows often destroys them. 



The young run immediately from the egg like partridges, etc., 

 and are withdrawn to some flinty field by the dam, where they skulk 

 among the stones, which are their best security ; for their feathers 

 are so exactly of the colour of our grey spotted flints, that the most 

 exact observer, unless he catches the eye of the young bird, may be 

 eluded. 



The eggs are short and round, of a dirty white, spotted with 

 dark bloody blotches. Though I might not be able, just when I 

 pleased, to procure ycu a bird, yet I could show you them almost 

 any day ; and any evening you may hear them round the village ; 

 for they make a clamour which may be heard a mile. 



"Thick- knee" is a most apt and expressive name for them, since 

 their legs seem swollen like those of a gouty man. When the 

 thick-knee flies, it stretches out its legs straight behind, like a heron. 



On the 27th of February, 1/88, 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 companions. 



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. 



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. G. W. 



