NOTES AND QUERIES. 155 



Observations on the Whimbrel (Numenius phseopus). — The habits 

 of the Whimbrel differ rather considerably during the two periods 

 that it is met with on the mud-flats of the East Coast. In the 

 autumn, small and rather wary flocks of immature birds are mostly 

 seen ; but in the spring, when they are travelling north to the 

 breeding - grounds, single birds and much smaller parties are 

 frequently found about the " flats." At this latter season they are 

 more easily approached. Thus, when I first came across the 

 Whimbrel on a bright May morning, at low water, wdien the whole 

 of the tidal broad of Breydon (Norfolk) was a vast expanse of mud, 

 they were scattered about singly and in twos and threes as is their 

 wont. As the flood-tide made, they got together more, and still later 

 were met with in flocks of from twelve to twenty individuals. 

 When the mud was beginning to cover up fast, the Whimbrel were 

 among the first flight of waders to leave Breydon. They mounted 

 high in the air, and when they had circled over their late feeding 

 grounds once or twice, departed in an irregular flock for the marshes. 

 Several hours later, when the tide ebbed, exactly the reverse hap- 

 pened, the birds coming back in flocks and then scattering them- 

 selves further afield in smaller parties. The Whimbrel moves 

 about with a very sedate step, lifting its feet well as it walks. 

 It is most graceful in all its movements, rarely presenting an un- 

 gainly appearance. The body is nicely balanced, and the head 

 proudly poised on a neck that is constantly being lengthened and 

 shortened. When the bird is feeding, the head is moved from side 

 to side as it looks right and left. The mud is pecked very frequently, 

 sometimes at every step, but sometimes only once in about six yards 

 or so. I suppose this is according to the abundance of the food or 

 the appetite of the bird. The curved beak necessitates the head 

 being turned eye towards the ground in order to reach food from 

 under obstacles. A large morsel requires much shaking in terrier 

 fashion before it can be satisfactorily mastered and swallowed. This 

 bird will often stop feeding and stand motionless for several minutes 

 with one leg raised. Then it will violently shake itself several times, 

 and, after a few refractory feathers have been coaxed into place, 

 commence feeding again with what is undoubtedly renewed vigour. 

 Sometimes it takes a short, sharp run, and then pauses with neck 

 drawn in and one foot raised, the wings drooping below the tail. 

 This is a position of extreme alertness. In this case, I suppose, 

 some fortunate little crustacean, spotted by the wader at a distance 

 of several yards, has managed to make its escape just in time. As 

 with other birds, I have seen this species attempt to swallow pieces 



