140 WHIMBBEL. 



In Scotland it occurs during the course of migration from 

 the G-rampians to Sutherlandshire, and breeds on the Island 

 of Handa, and other parts of Sutherlandshire, in the northern 

 and most retired districts. Sir William Jardine has found 

 it in June, in Kircudbrightshire. In Orkney it is common as 

 a summer visitant, and breeds in Hoy; also in Shetland, in 

 Yell, and Hascosea. In Ireland it is seen only, according to 

 Mr. Thompson, in spring and autumn. 



The course of its migration is northwards for the breeding 

 season, about the month of May, and southwards 'au retour,' 

 in the autumn, in July and August; the old birds in the 

 former month, and the young ones in the latter. The flocks 

 advance at a considerable height in the air, and in the form 

 of the letter V reversed. 



The Whimbrel, too, delights in summer in the most 

 desolate districts, open moors, and barren tracts, especially 

 those in which watering places occur, and in the winter 

 frequents the sands of the shore, and the mud-banks, and 

 mud or sand-islands of the estuaries of rivers, or of the sea. 

 It, like the larger species, is a very fine bird to eat. More 

 than four or five are rarely seen together, and these probably 

 the brood of the preceding year. They are rather shy in 

 their habits, and a few of the number are posted as sentinels 

 twenty or thirty yards from the main body, and on notice 

 of the approach of any danger given by these, the whole 

 number are in an instant on the wing; young birds are 

 sometimes met with more unwary. During the breeding 

 season, they sometimes perch on a knoll or the low fragment 

 of some decayed or storm-blasted tree. Before rain they are 

 noisy and restless. 



This bird feeds on insects, mollusks, and worms, which it 

 procures by probing with its bill in the sands or other soft 

 places; also on small crabs, beetles, and other insects; 

 grasshoppers, crickets, and snails, and the whortleberry, 

 crowberry, and bilberry. When tjie tide is up, in the season 

 of their sojourn by the sea, they leave the shore temporarily 

 for the adjoining fields, but instinctively return to the former 

 the moment it is again left uncovered. 



Yarrell writes, 'Their note is said to resemble the words 

 'tetty, tetty, tetty, tet,' quickly repeated.' Meyer however, 

 and I think better, renders it by 'twoiwe,' or 'tloiwe,' and 

 also a 'ta3i, taei.' 



The nest is a rude couch, placed among the heather on the 



