1 88 THE GAME BIRDS AND WILD FOWL 



fly much higher past our coasts, and do not alight in such numbers 

 as in spring. They are also much less numerous, which is a 

 remarkable fact, and one which confirms the statements of some 

 observers that this species passes south in autumn by different 

 routes from those it follows in spring. A few birds, it should be 

 stated, remain on our coasts all the summer, non-breeding 

 individuals that stop short of the breeding grounds, whilst others 

 lag behind the rest in autumn and spend the winter with us. 

 The Whimbrel migrates in flocks, and these generally pass our 

 coasts at night, often at an immense altitude, only their faintly- 

 sounding call-notes informing us of their presence overhead. 

 During their stay with us they frequent much the same localities 

 as the Curlew, mud-banks, salt marshes, and flat, low-lying 

 coasts. At first they are by no means shy, as is usual with birds 

 breeding in the Arctic regions, where they are seldom or never 

 molested by man, but the gunners of the coast soon teach them 

 wariness. Their actions on the coast are very similar to those of 

 their larger congener. Their flight is equally rapid and well- 

 sustained, and they possess the same habit of flying about the 

 air, uttering repeated cries when alarmed. Perhaps they do not 

 feed so much on the actual beach as the Curlew, being more 

 partial to the swampy salt marshes, full of streams and pools left 

 by the tide, They wade repeatedly, and are said even to swim 

 occasionally ; and they have been observed to be very fond of 

 bathing, throwing the water over themselves as they stood breast- 

 deep in the sea. In autumn and winter it appears to be just as 

 gregarious as the Curlew, but does not associate with other wild 

 fowl to the same extent. The notes of the Whimbrel are very 

 similar to those of the Curlew, and the bird also possesses the same 

 rippling or bubbling cry — a shrill iet-ty tel-ty tet-ty tcf, which is 

 heard repeatedly in the air, and has gained for this species the local 

 name of " Titteral." During summer the Whimbrel occasionally 

 perches in trees. The food of this species consists of insects, 

 worms, snails, various ground fruits, and berries, in summer, and 

 of crustaceans, sand-worms, and other small marine animals 

 during winter. 



Nidification. — The breeding season of the Whimbrel begins 

 about the middle of May, and the eggs are laid from the end of 



