WHIMBREL. 251 



WHIMBKEL. 



Numenius phoeopus. 



A FEW Whimbrels arrive on our coast in Aprils and in May 

 they become so numerous as to have obtained the name of 

 May-birdSj soon^ however, departing to their breeding-places. 

 This bird is known also as the " Titterel/' and is found in little 

 flocks on the beach at high water, scattering over the mud 

 or sand when the tide is out. Although the main body has 

 left by the end of May, a few may occasionally be met with 

 late in the autumn ; for example, Mr. JeflPery records (p. n.) 

 that several were seen at Pagham, on October 3rd, 1864, 

 and one or two are occasionally observed in the summer. 

 Mr. Dennis states that he found one to contain the claws 

 and other fragments of small crabs, and mentions flocks of 

 Whimbrel on the coast near Cuckmere in May. The Whim- 

 brel has a loud clear note, and is very difficult of approach. 



It much more often goes inland to feed than does the 

 Curlew, and picks up insects and worms as well as small 

 land shells. At the breeding-season it goes as far north as 

 Iceland. Yarrell (B. B.vol.iii. p. 508) states that Major Feilden 

 found a dozen nests in the Faroes, and that the bird is very 

 pugnacious, driving off' even the Common Skua and the 

 Lesser Black-backed Gull, uttering its sharp trilling cry of 

 " Tetty, tetty " while darting to and fro with arrow-like 

 flight. 



