PLATE I 

 WHIMBREL. Numenius phceopus. 



June 24///, 1897. I photographed this nest on a low grassy island in Shetland, 

 where the birds, thanks to most vigorous protection, still breed in comparative 

 abundance. After taking some photographs, I lay down on a small knoll, 

 and amused myself by watching the Whimbrels through my glasses. As 

 they settled down again, the females ran straight to their nests without any 

 attempt to conceal the locality, and I easily marked all the nests I cared to 

 examine. The males were, most jealous guardians of their homes : not a bird 

 was allowed to fly past within a hundred yards without being driven off the 

 premises ; even the Black-backs flying lazily past were chased and driven to 

 a safe distance ; to the Eider Ducks, however, not the slightest attention 

 was paid. 



VOL. in. T 73 



