200 SCOLOPACID.E. 



cither on high grass fields or heathy moors, or where stunted 

 and decayed willow-stumps afford a shelter. The nest is 

 either placed beside one of these stumps or on a raised 

 grassy lump of earth. The construction of the nest is very 

 slight, being a sparing accumulation of some dry grasses or 

 vegetable matter, and consequently it is very easy to detect it, 

 when in pursuit of the eggs. The birds invariably run off 

 the nest when approached ; and, as they make a great outcry 

 when disturbed, they shew the intruder the way to their 

 nest. The number of eggs is three or four, which are 

 placed with their points towards the centre. Both the male 

 and female sit on the eggs by turns ; and as soon as the 

 young are hatched they leave the nest, and very shortly become 

 acquainted with the safest mode of defence, by lying very 

 close to the ground on the slightest alarm of danger. Soon 

 after the middle of June the young are running about and 

 growing very fast ; they are then left by the parent birds, 

 which congregate about the latter end of July and return 

 southward. The young are generally ready to follow in 

 flocks at the end of August, and it is a rare occurrence to 

 find an adult bird in their company. 



On the island of Rugen many Whimbrel Curlews are 

 taken in autumn by means of horsehair snares ; the fla- 

 vour of the young is very fine, and its meat tender and in 

 very excellent condition. Adult birds that have fed on 

 marine productions taste fishy and rancid. 



The Whimbrel Curlew measures sixteen inches in length; 

 the wing, from the carpus to the tip, nine inches and a 

 half; the beak, three inches. It is the same with the Whim- 

 brel as with the Curlew in respect to size at different ages ; 

 and when called upon to give the dimensions, it is under- 

 stood to refer to adult birds. The head, neck, back, scapulars, 



