692 THE WHIMBREL. 



THE two birds which have been chosen to represent the large genus Nume'nius are 

 well-known inhabitants of this country. 



The CURLEW, or WHATJP, is mostly found upon the sea-shore and open moorlands, and 

 partly on account of its wild, shy habits, and partly because its flesh is very delicate and 

 well flavoured, is greatly pursued by sportsmen. These birds are most annoying to a 

 gunner who does not understand their ways, having a fashion of keeping just out of gun 

 range, rising from the ground with a wild mournful cry which has the effect of alarming 

 every olher bird within hearing, and flying off to a distance, where they alight only to 

 play the same trick again. Moreover, they are strong on the wing and well feathered, so 

 that they require a sharp blow to bring them down, and necessitate the use of large shot. 

 When thus alarmed they generally skim along at a low elevation, averaging about four or 

 six feet from the ground, and consequently afford little mark. 



Sir W. Jardine writes as follows concerning the habits of the Curlew. " They retired 

 regularly inland after their favourite feeding-places were covered. A long and narrow 

 ledge of rocks runs into the Frith (Solway) behind which we used to lie concealed for the 

 purpose of getting shots at various sea-fowl returning at ebb. None were so regular as 

 the Curlew. The more aquatic were near the sea and could perceive the gradual reflux ; 

 the Curlews were far inland, but as soon as we could perceive the top of a sharp rock 

 standing above water, we were sure to perceive the first flocks leave the land, thus keeping 

 pace regularly with the change of tides. They fly in a direct line to their feeding-grounds, 

 and often in a wedge shape ; on alarm a simultaneous cry is uttered, and the next coming 

 flock turns from its course, uttering in repetition the same alarm-note. In a few days 

 they become so wary as not to fly over the concealed station." 



The breeding-grounds of the Curlew are more inland, the locality varying according 

 to the character of the district, wild heath and high hilly grounds being chosen in some 

 places, while marshy and boggy soils are favoured in others. The nest of this bird is 

 very slight, being only a small heap of dry leaves or grasses scraped together under the 

 shelter of a fcuft of heather or a bunch of rank grass. There are usually four eggs, placed, 

 as is customary with such birds, with their small ends together, and being much larger at 

 one end than at the other. Their colour is brownish green with some blotches and 

 splashes of dark brown and a darker green. The young are curious little birds, long- 

 legged, short-billed, covered with puffy down, and with very little indications of either 

 wings or tail. 



The general colouring of the Curlew is brown, lighter upon the head and neck, 

 and darker upon the back, each feather being darker in the centre than on the edges. 

 The upper tail-coverts are white streaked with brown, the smaller wing-coverts are edged 

 with greyish white, and the tail is grey-white barred with brown. The wings are black, 

 and some of the quills have white shafts. The chin is white, and the under parts are 

 also white, but with a tinge of grey and streaked with short marks of dark brown. The 

 under tail-coverts are white. Both sexes are coloured alike, and the average length is 

 rather more than twenty inches. 



AT first sight the WHIMBREL looks something like a diminutive curlew, save that the 

 bill is not so long, so thick, nor so sharply curved as in the preceding species. On 

 account of this resemblance it is in some places known by the name of Half-Curlew, and 

 in others it is called the Jack Curlew. In the Shetland Isles it is known by the popular 

 name of Tang-Whaap. 



The habits of the Whimbrel much resemble those of the curlew. Mr. Thompson 

 makes the following remarks respecting this bird. " In spring, Whimbrels, probably for 

 want of good company no godwits &c. being here keep generally ' by themselves/ and 

 as such are literally a host ; but in autumn they exhibit a very sociable disposition, and 

 are frequently to be found in company with curlews : with godwits too they not uncom- 

 monly associate ; I have obtained both species at the same shot. At this time they 

 accompany the curlew, and under a safer guardian the most trustworthy of friends could 

 not place them. Never while under the surveillance of the curlew, but only when 

 trusting to themselves, have Whimbrels fallen to my gun. Like that bird, they fly much 



