GAME BIRDS AND WILD FOWL. 187 



Yenesay in Western Siberia, eastwards to Kamtschatka, whilst 

 it has been known to occur on Behring Island, east of the latter 

 country. This bird probably passes through Turkestan on 

 migration, although it appears not to have yet been observed 

 there, for it is known to winter in India and Ceylon. Birds 

 breeding further east pass through Dauria, China, and Japan on 

 migration, and winter in Burma, the Malay Archipelago, and 

 Australia. The Eastern form of the Common Whimbrel, only 

 subspecifically distinct, a complete intergradation existing 

 between Eastern and Western examples of each race. Typical 

 examples differ from the Common Whimbrel in having the rump 

 streaked with dark brown, a peculiarity only observed, and even 

 then not to such a marked extent, in the young of the latter. 

 JV. hudsonicits, the American representative, breeding in the 

 Arctic portion of the Nearctic region, wintering south of the 

 equator as far as Patagonia. Differs from the Common Whimbrel 

 in having the axillaries and under wing coverts pale chestnut, 

 and the rump uniform in colour with the back. N. tahitiensis 

 (most closely allied to the preceding), an inhabitant of Alaska 

 during the breeding season, wintering in the Pacific Islands. 

 Differs from the Common Whimbrel in having the rump uniform in 

 colour with the back, the axillaries and under wing coverts pale 

 chestnut, and in having hair-like plumes extending beyond the 

 feathers on the thighs. 



Time during which the Common Whimbrel may be 

 taken. — August ist to March ist. 



Habits. — Although the Whimbrel is a much more northern 

 bird, and is best known in our islands on passage, its habits 

 very closely resemble those of the Curlew. Owing to the 

 remarkable regularity of appearance of this species in spring, it is 

 known in many districts of England as the " May bird," usually 

 arriving on our coasts during the last days of April and the 

 beginning of May. It is observed crossing the Mediterranean 

 from its winter quarters in Africa during April. The return 

 migration begins at the end of July in our islands with the 

 appearance of the young birds, and the flight is continued through 

 August and September, the Mediterranean again being crossed 

 during September and October. In autumn, however, the birds 



