68 



BRITISH BIRDS 



137. Curlew [Numenius arquata arquata (Linnseus)]. Com- 

 mon on our own coasts in winter, rarer summer. Home birds 

 breed inland, but scarce on E. side of England. Local. 



Bird. Length 21-26 in. Female larger. Recognised by its 

 large size, the long down-curved beak 

 (5-6 in.), the light and dark brown 

 pattern of the upper-parts and tail, the 

 white rump excepted, and the mostly 

 whitish under- parts streaked brown. 

 Nest. On moorland, rough pastures, 

 and marshy ground. A scrape in the 

 ground, lined usually with dry grasses. 

 Fig. 82. Eggs. Usually 4. Pear-shaped. 



Greenish or olive-brown spotted and 



blotched with brown, and underlying ash-grey. Rarely blue- 

 green unmarked. Av. size, 2-65x1 '86 in. Laying begins 

 April-May. One brood. 



138. Whimbrel [Numenius phceopus phceopus (Linnaeus)]. 

 Chiefly bird of passage. A few breed in Orkneys and Shet- 

 lands, and possibly some of the Western Isles. 



Bird. Length 16-18 in., therefore much smaller than the 

 curlew, which it resembles in coloration and in the long down- 

 curved beak (3^ in.). It differs in having a broad pale band 

 down the middle of the dark brown crown. 



Nest. On moor or marsh. Scrape, lined with moss, lichen, 

 and other material. 



Eggs. Usually 4. Broad pear-shaped. Greenish to pale or 

 deeper brownish boldly blotched with darker brown, and 

 underlying ash-grey. Av. size, 2*30 x 1 '61 in. Laying begins 

 May-June. One brood. 



V. ORDER: GRUIFORMES 



Family : Rallidce Rails 



139. Corncrake, landrail [Or ex crex (Linnseus) ; Crex pratensis 



Bechstein]. Summer visitor to our 

 grass-lands, but local. Occasionally 

 remains through winter. 



Bird. Length 10^ in. Recognised 

 by its rasping crake, its wedge- 

 shaped body, the yellowish-brown 

 upper-parts with broad dark streaks ; 

 the paler under-parts barred, not 

 streaked, on the flanks with brown, 

 and the chestnut wings. Greyish 



Fig. 83. 



above the eye, on the cheek, throat, and breast. This grey, 



