lis 



WHIMBREL 



NUMENIUS PHyEOPUS {Linn.). 



Scolopax phseopus, Lin7i. S. N. i. p. 243 (1766). 



Numenius phseopusj Naum. viii. p. 506 ; Macg. iv. p. 253 ; 



Yarr. eel. 4j iii. p. 507 ; Dresser, viii. p. 227. 

 Numenius phoeopus, Hetvitson, ii. p. 324. 



Coiir/is, Courlieu, French; Regen-Brachvogel, German; 

 ZarapUo menor, Zarapito, Spanish. 



Althougli some of this species are to be met with on 

 our shores during the winter, the Whimbrel is generally 

 known in England as a bird of double passage, appear- 

 ing in July, August, or September on the southward 

 migration, and again in May on its return to its 

 breeding-quarters in the north. In many parts of 

 England and Ireland it is known as the May-bird, but 

 "Jack-Curlew" and "Half-Curlew" are perhaps the most 

 common names for it. In Northamptonshire large 

 numbers pass over us to the south-west in August and 

 September, and a few in late April or May ; the 

 autumnal travellers seldom, if ever, alight in our neigh- 

 bom-hood, but are sufficiently well known to have 

 acquired the local name of " Seven-Wbistlers " from 



