Class II. THICK-KNEED BUSTARD. 381 



and scapulars, and coverts of the wings are 

 black, edged deeply with a pale reddish brown; 

 the belly and thighs are of a pure white ; the 

 two first quil feathers are black, marked on the 

 middle of each web with a large white spot. 

 The tail consists of twelve feathers ; the tips 

 of the two outmost are black, beneath is a broad 

 white bar, the remaining part barred with white 

 and dusky brown ; in the next feathers the white 

 lessens ; in the middle it almost disappears, 

 changing to a pale reddish brown, mottled with 

 a darker ; its mouth very wide ; the legs are of 

 a fine yellow; the toes very short, bordered 

 with a strong membrane ; the knees thick, as if 

 swelled, like those of a gouty man : from whence 

 Belon gives it the name of (Edkiiemus.^ 



This bird seems unknown in the western parts 

 of this kingdom ; but is found in Hampshire, 

 Norfolk, and on Lincoln heath, where, from a 

 similarity of colors to the curlew, it is called 

 the Stone Curlew. It breeds in some places in 

 rabbet burrows ; also among stones on the bare 

 ground, laying two eggs of a copper color, spot- 

 ted with a darker red. The young run soon 

 after they are hatched. These birds feed in the 

 night on worms and caterpillars : they will also 



* From Qihw, and Kvifj.i^. 



