THE BLACK TERN 275 



me in Norfolk in the winter of 1861, and among them about half 

 seemed full-grown ; of the others some were so small that, at the 

 first glance, I supposed them to be Whimbrels. 



The Curlew is found on the sea-coast over the whole of Europe 

 and Asia, and along the northern coast of Africa. 



The flesh of this bird is said by some to be excellent eating. This, 

 perhaps, may be the case with young birds shot early in autumn 

 before they have been long subjected to a marine diet. My own 

 experience of birds shot in winter does not confirm this opinion. I 

 have found them eatable, but not palatable. 



THE WHIMBREL 



NUMENIUS PH^OPUS 



General plumage pale ash-colour, mottled with white and dusky spots ; crown 

 divided by a longitudinal streak of yellowish white ; over each eye a 

 broader brown streak ; belly and abdomen white, with a few dusky spots 

 on the flanks ; feathers on the back, and scapulars deep brown, in the 

 middle bordered by lighter brown ; rump white ; tail ash-brown, barred 

 obliquely with dark brown ; bill dusky, reddish at the base ; irides brown ; 

 feet lead-colour. Length not exceeding seventeen inches. Eggs dark 

 olive-brown, blotched with dusky. 



Though by no means a rare bird, the Whimbrel is of far less com- 

 mon occurrence than the Curlew, and is seen only at two periods 

 of the year, in May and August, when performing its migrations. 

 It resembles the Curlew both in figure and habits, though much 

 smaller in size ; its note, too, is like the whistle of that bird, but 

 somewhat higher. It is gregarious, but unsociable with other 

 birds. The extreme southern limit at which the Whimbrel breeds 

 is considered to be the Orkney and Shetland Islands. It is known 

 to visit most of the countries of Europe and Asia in spring and 

 autumn, but is nowhere very abundant. 



ORDER GAVIM 



FAMILY LARID^ 



Sub-Family STERNINiE 

 THE BLACK TERN 



HYDROCHELIDON NIGRA 



Bill black ; feet purple-brown, the membrane short ; head and neck black ; 

 upper parts lead-colour ; under parts dark ash-grey ; under tail-coverts 

 white ; tail not much forked, shorter than the wings ; irides brown. In 

 winter, the lore, throat and breast are white. Length ten and a quarter 

 inches. Eggs dark olive-brown, blotched and spotted with black. 



The Black Tern is a common bird in most temperate countries 



