7 o 



BRITISH BIRDS. 



THE WHIMBREL. 

 s Phcropus, Lath. Courtis corlieu, Temm.) 



THE Whimbrel is not much more than half the 

 size of the Curlew, which it very nearly resembles 

 in shape, colour of its plumage, and manner of 

 living. It is about seventeen inches in length, 

 twenty-nine in breadth, and weighs about fourteen 

 ounces. The bill is about three inches long, the 

 upper mandible black, the under one pale red. 

 The top of the head is black, divided in the middle 

 of the crown by a white line from the brow to the 

 hinder part: between the bill and the eyes is a 

 darkish oblong spot: the sides of the head, the 

 neck, and breast, are pale brown, marked with 

 narrow dark streaks, pointing downwards: belly 

 the same, but the dark streaks upon it are larger 



