196 SCOLOPACID^. 



THE WHIMBKEL. 



May Curlew ; May Whaap ; May-bird, or May-fowl ; 

 Jack Curlew j Stone Curlew. 



Numenius phceopus, Liim. (sp.) 

 Scolopax „ ,, 



Is common, especially when moving northward in its 

 vernal migration. 



This is the only one of the Scolopaclda that can be characterized, 

 in general terms (exceptions there must surely be), as a bird of 

 double passage only,- — visiting us merely on migration to and 

 from its breeding haunts."* Doubtless it may at least occasionally 

 be met with, in winter, on some parts of the coast, more particu- 

 larly southward ; but my correspondents, in all quarters of the 

 island, mention the species either as a spring, or as a spring 

 and autumnal visitant. In the month of April or May, it appears 

 rn large flocks along the line of the eastern coast, — on that of 

 Wexford, Dublin, Louth, Down, Antrim, &c. As the whimbrel 

 is not found to the westward of Ireland within the latitude of 

 tins island, it is interesting to know that these migratory bodies 

 move as regularly along the western as the eastern coast. Thus, 

 they are " very common, in April and May, near Tralee, in 

 Kerry ;"t appear in large flocks about Eoundstone, on the 

 Galway coast, in May, and remain during that month, where they 



* By the shooters in Belfast Bay (one of whom speaks from the experience of 

 above half a century), this bird was never seen in winter. On the Dublin coast, and 

 in Cork harbour, it is said merely to appear in spring and autumn. With respect 

 to Great Britain, however, Mr. Selby remarks that " these birds are found upon 

 most of our shores during the winter * * * rarely associated in companies of 

 more thau five or six in number" (vol. ii. p. 66). Mr. Yarrell observes, although 

 this bird is " to be seen occasionally on many parts of our shores in winter, it is 

 generally most plentiful in May, and again in autumn * * * on the way to and 

 from the northern localities, &c." (vol. ii. p. 517). 



t The late Mr. T. F. Neligan. 



