114 THE GAME BIRDS AND WILD FOWL 



to 10 inches in the European species), in havingwhite patches almost 

 invariably on the third primary, and in having the white on the 

 outer web of the seventh much more developed. CE. senegalensis, 

 a species vs'hich ranges across Africa, south of the Great Desert 

 from Senegambia in the vrest, across the Soudan to Nubia and 

 Abyssinia in the east. Differs from the Common Stone Curlew 

 in having the median wing coverts uniform gray with dark shaft 

 lines, and in having only one bar (the lower) across the wing. 



Time during which the Stone Curlew may be taken.— 

 August ist to March ist. 



Habits. — In many of its habits the Common Stone Curlew 

 resembles the Bustards, although it is somewhat intermediate in 

 this respect between those birds and the Plovers. It is a summer 

 visitor, as previously remarked, to our islands, arriving in its old 

 haunts about the middle of April, retiring south again in October. 

 Its haunts in our islands are heaths and commons, rough untilled 

 country, downs and warrens. Although in no sense an arboreal 

 species, many of its favourite haunts are surrounded by trees. 

 However, like the Bustards, it is a bird of the open, and never 

 found on wooded ground. It runs with great speed, and flies 

 quickly, often at some height in the air above its haunts, especially 

 at night. The Stone Curlew is a decidedly nocturnal bird, and at 

 the approach of dusk becomes particularly lively and noisy as it 

 seeks its favourite feeding grounds. This may be especially 

 remarked during bright moonlight nights. Its note is a loud, 

 clear, but somewhat plaintive cry. The food of the Stone Curlew 

 is chiefly of an animal nature, such as snails, worms, and insects, 

 especially nocturnal beetles, frogs, lizards, and mice. This bird 

 has been accused of devouring the chicks of Game Birds, but I am 

 not aware that there is any positive evidence in favour of the state- 

 ment. During the night the Stone Curlew frequently leaves its 

 native heath and seeks the turnip-fields and pastures adjoining 

 to search for food. During the summer it appears not to be even 

 social, but towards autumn, when the broods are strong upon the 

 wing, it becomes gregarious, and probably migrates in flocks. 

 Much of its time is spent upon the ground, where, at the approach 

 of danger, it often crouches low and motionless, trusting to the 

 protective colour of its plumage to shield it from observation. 



