3248 THE ZooLocist—OcToBER, 1872. 
66. Nycticorax griseus, Linn. Night Heron.—Early in July, 
1870, an immature male of this species was shot at Nordedhal, 
island of Stromoe, and received by Herr Miiller. 
67. Ibis falcinellus, Linn. Glossy Ibis. Native name, Svartur 
Spegvi—Is recorded by Herr Miiller (Feroernes Fuglefauna, 
p- 23). 
68. Numenius arquata, Linn. Curlew. Native name, Tang$- 
Spegvi.—The curlew is only known in Feroe as an autumnal and 
winter visitant. Yarrell (Hist. Brit. Birds, 3rd.-ed., p. 513) 
mentions that this bird visits the Faroe Islands in summer: I 
think this is a mistake. It is singular that it is entirely absent as 
a breeding species, giving place to the whimbrel, which it only 
partially does in the Shetland Islands. 
69. Numenius pheopus, Linn. Whimbrel. Native name, 
Spegvii—Svabo mentions that they arrive about the middle of 
April and depart by the 29th of September. Herr Miiller has 
seen some as late as the 3rd of October. On the 16th of May I 
noticed them, though paired, in flocks near to Thorshavn, feeding 
on the meadows; soon afterwards they separated and betook them- 
selves to their breeding-grounds. They are so abundant as a 
breeding species that we never seemed to be able to get out of their 
sight; they were constantly flying round us in company with the 
oystercatchers. The first nest of the whimbrel that we procured 
was on the 25th of May, in the island of Suderoe; afterwards we 
found and received them in considerable numbers. On the 17th 
of June I got twelve nests, each with four eggs, which had been 
collected for me the week previously from the vicinity of Norde- 
dhal, Stromoe ; all were quite fresh. On the 16th of June I found a 
nest with four eggs in rather a singular position: it was placed 
close to a rill, between two blocks of stone, which just gave room 
enough for the bird to squeeze between. The whimbrel is of a 
pugnacious disposition whilst breeding, and is constantly on the 
alert to drive off intruders from the vicinity of its nest; I have 
watched them by the hour chasing the lesser blackbacked gull 
(LZ. fuscus). When engaged in these combats their flight is rapid 
and arrow-like, whilst they constantly repeat their trilling cry, 
which has not inaptly been described as resembling the words 
“tetty, tetty, tetty, tet,” quickly repeated. A beautiful white 
variety is in Herr Miiller’s collection. 
70. Totanus calidris, Linn. Redshank. Native name, Stelkur. 
