172 CHARADRIAD^E. 



FAMILY XXXI. CHARADPJAD^E (PLOVERS). 



GENUS LXXXIIL (EDICNEMUS (THICKNEE). 



SPECIES 164 THE GREAT PLOVER. 



CEdicnemus crepitans. Linn. 



CEdicneme criard. Temm. 



Thickneed Bustard. Norfolk Plover. Stone Curlew. 



THE THICKNEE, OR GREAT PLOVER, is a species of great 

 rarity, and four or five specimens obtained are all we can 

 reckon of its occurrence in Ireland. Of these, one was pro- 

 cured at Clontarf, in the winter of 1829, and recorded by 

 Dr. J. D. Marshall, of Belfast ; and two others, observed by 

 Richard D. Parker, Esq., of Cork, on the mountains of Ive- 

 ragh, during the month of August, 1842.* They appeared so 

 tame as to allow an approach within some ten or twelve 

 yards before taking flight, and, when rising, both uttered 

 their shrill, loud whistle. 



A thicknee in our collection was shot in the county of 

 Clare, in the autumn of 1844 ; and, like the last-mentioned, 

 was remarked at the time for its tameness and fearlessness 

 of danger. 



Attractive from its large size and appearance, the thicknee 

 is a fine-looking species ; and connecting, as it does, the bus- 

 tard with the plover, it is one of much interest to the orni- 

 thologist. With it we also observe another change in the 

 character of the localities frequented by it, which are large, 

 sandy, open tracts, often with an entire absence of water in 

 their vicinity. In such places, when pursued, the thicknee 

 prefers running along the ground rather than trust to its 

 powers of flight to escape from danger. 



In the great majority of the species already described, we 

 have found a large proportion to be winter visitants to our 

 island. This species, on the contrary, we find to occur dur- 

 ing summer in Great Britain. 



Habitat Southern Europe. 



* Thompson. 



