WHIMBREL CURLEW. 197 



GRALLA TORES. SCOLOPACIDyE. 



PLATE CLXXVII. 



WHIMBREL CURLEW. 



NUMENIUS PH^OPUS. 



The Whimbrel Curlew is a well identified, periodical 

 visitant in Great Britain, but far less numerous than the 

 Curlew last described. The northern parts of Scotland are 

 more generally frequented by this bird than the southern, 

 and in the south of England it occurs only occasionally, 

 although they may be seen during their spring and autumnal 

 migrations on our coasts. On the continent of Europe the 

 Whimbrel Curlew inhabits chiefly the most northern coun- 

 tries, such as the Faroe Isles, Iceland, Norway, as high as 

 the arctic circle, Sweden, Lapland, and the northern parts 

 of Russia. In autumn this bird migrates southward, ex- 

 tending along the coasts of the North and Baltic Seas, 

 frequently to Friesland and Holland, but rarely to France. 

 On the continent of Europe below Holland it is rare ; but 

 again, on the borders and islands of the Mediterranean, it 

 is more frequent. In North America, Siberia, central Asia, 

 and Bengal, it is said to occur equally. In New Holland 

 it has also been captured, and it seems to inhabit that 

 country. 



Like most migratory birds that breed in the northern 



