Prose, etc' (Longmans & Co., 1894). This bird feeds 

 principally at night, and in Spain, when riding by moon- 

 light, I have frequently been startled by a sudden clamour 

 of " Alcaraviines " passing overhead on their way to their 

 feeding-grounds. The cry is loud and clear, but to my 

 ears somewhat mournful and querulous, well in keeping 

 with the lonely and uninhabited localities so beloved of 

 our bird. In captivity the Thick-knee thrives well, and 

 from its semi-confident hesitating manners and extra- 

 ordinary speed on foot, with frequent relapses into 

 complete immobility, is a very attractive denizen of an 

 aviary. This species is to be met with in suitable localities 

 throughout Central and Southern Europe and North 

 Africa during the summer, and very frequently, if not 

 generally, passes the winter in the countries that border 

 the Mediterranean. The Thick-knee, though a very 

 powerful flyer, has but little chance of escape from a good 

 Falcon, and in my experience seems to be well aware of 

 this fact, as although it will turn down wind and fly close 

 to the ground at great speed, it shrieks pitifully, and will 

 plunge headlong into the first furze-bush, patch of 

 bracken, or rabbit-burrow that it can reach. 1 have 

 kept several of these birds captured in this way alive at 

 Lilford for considerable periods. In my opinion the 

 Thick-knee is altogether worthless for the table, but in 

 Spain there is a tradition (no doubt handed down from 

 the Moors) that the flesh of this bird if eaten warm 

 endows its consumer with strong sight and fleetness of 

 foot. 



