﻿THICK-KNEE. 3 



for bathing, it seldom approaches the water during the day. 

 Wooded localities it also avoids, unless young plantations of 

 Scotch fir can be so called, as it seems very partial to ranging 

 among them, if the surface of the ground is dry and sandy, 

 and abounds with the cones of that kind of fir, which, as 

 they lie on the ground, harbour many insects suitable to 

 this species. Its great fear of the approach of man keeps 

 the Thick-knee in the midst of the before-named open and 

 barren localities ; in such places it also roosts during the 

 day, either standing on one leg, with its head buried up to 

 the eyes in its back feathers, or squatting close to the 

 ground. During the whole night the Thick-knee is lively 

 and busy in pursuit of its food. 



The general appearance of the Thick-knee is peculiar, and 

 cannot be mistaken, in consequence of its thick head, long 

 legs, and dull-coloured plumage ; it goes about on the 

 ground with stiff legs, proceeding at short intervals rather 

 leisurely ; but when endangered by the approach of an in- 

 truder, it runs incredibly fast, and to the greatest distance 

 that the ground allows, before it takes wing ; its flight is not 

 quick in the day, but rather heavily pursued, flying with 

 arched wings, low over the ground ; at night it flies generally 

 with more ease and buoyancy, and much higher, particu- 

 larly during the migratory time of the year. 



The Thick -knee is not only shy in common with most 

 other birds, but is so in the greatest degree, as it avoids 

 not only sportsmen, but shepherds and ploughmen, cattle 

 and carriages ; and the colouring of its plumage being quite in 

 harmony with sandy ground, and the short and dry vegetation 

 on it, contributes very considerably to its safety, of which the 

 young birds seem by instinct to be well aware, as they fre- 

 quently lie down close to the ground, on the approach of danger. 



The sociability of the Thick-knee with its own species is 



B 2 



