OF BIRDS. 643 



On the contrary, those that build or lay in the almost inaccessi- 

 ble rocks that impend over the British seas, breed there still in vast 

 numbers, having little to fear from the approach of mankind : the 

 only disturbance they meet with in general, being from the despe- 

 rate attempts of a few, to get their eggs. 



Cloven- footed Water-Fowl, 



15. Herons. The white heron is an uncommon bird, and visits 

 us at uncertain seasons ; the common kind, and the bittern never 

 leave us. 



16. Curlews. The curlew breeds sometimes on our mountains, 

 but considering the vast flights that appear in winter, it is probable 

 that the greater part retire to other countries : the whimbrel breeds 

 on the Grampian hills, in the neighbourhood of Invercauld. 



17. Snipes. The woodcock breeds in the moist woods of Swe- 

 den, and other cold countries. Some snipes breed here, but the 

 greatest part retire elsewhere ; as do every other species of this 

 genus. 



18. Sandpipers. The lapwing continues here the whole year ; 

 the ruff breeds here, but retires in winter ; the redshank and sand- 

 piper breed in this country, and reside here. All the others absent 

 themselves during summer. 



19. Plover and Oyster-catcher. The long-legged plover and 

 sanderling visit us only in winter j the dottrel appears in spring 

 and in autumn ; yet, what is very singular, we do not find it breeds 

 in South Britain. The oyster- catcher lives with us the whole year. 

 The Norfolk plover and sea-lark breed in England. The green 

 plover breeds on the mountains of the north of England, and on 

 the Grampian hills. 



We must here remark, that every species of the genera of cur- 

 lews, woodcocks, sandpipers, and plovers, that forsake us in the 

 spring, retire to Sweden, Poland, Prussia, Norway, and Lapland, 

 to breed : as soon as the young can fly, they return to us again, 

 because the frosts which set in early in those countries, totally 

 deprive them of the means of subsisting ; as the dryness and hard- 

 ness of the ground, in general, during our summer prevent them 

 from penetrating the earth with their bills, in search of worms, 

 which are the natural food of these birds. Mr. Eckmark speaks 

 thus of the retreat of the whole tribe of cloven-footed water- 

 fowl out of his country (Sweden) at the approach of winter ; and 



2 T 2 



