134 BIRDS OF GUERNSEY. 



a few may stay some little time into the summer, 

 as I have seen them as late as June, but, as far as 

 I have been able to make out, none breed there ; a 

 few also may make their appearance on the autumn 

 migration, but very few in comparison with those 

 which appear in the spring, and I have never seen 

 any there at that time. Purdy, one of the 

 Guernsey boatmen, who is pretty well up in the 

 sea and shore birds, told me the Whimbrel occurred 

 commonly in May, but not on the autumn migration. 

 He added that it was known there as the " May-bird," 

 and was very good to eat, and much easier to shoot 

 than a Curlew, in which he is quite right. 



Professor Ansted includes the Whimbrel in his 

 list, and marks it only as occurring in Guernsey and 

 Sark. There are two specimens in the Musenm. 



112. EEDSHANK. Totanus calidris, Linnaeus. 

 French, "Chevalier gambette." An occasional but 

 never numerous visitant to all the Islands, on both 

 spring and autumn migrations; none appear to 

 remain through the summer. I have, however, 

 a Eedshank in full breeding plumage, killed in 

 Guernsey as late as the 23rd of April. 



Professor Ansted includes the Eedshank in his 

 list, but only marks it as occurring in Guernsey. 

 There are two specimens in the Museum. 



