THE WHIMBREL. 667 



Field -characters. — Similar to Curlew in haunts, habits and 

 general appearance, but is smaller, with comparatively shorter 

 bill ; and is far tamer, usually permitting examination at quarters 

 •close enough to make out characteristic coloration of crown, two 

 broad bands divided by narrow pale streak. Except at a few 

 breeding-stations on Scottish islands is, in Britain, a bird of double 

 passage, more plentiful in spring. Migrating by day and night, its 

 passage, singly or in small parties, is often revealed by a clear 

 tittering cry, " tetty, tetty, tetty, tet." Bubbling love-song is not 

 unlike Curlew's. 



Breeding-habits. — Breeds on tundra and heather-covered moors 

 and islands. Nest. — A hollow in ground, scantily lined with bents, 

 •etc. Eggs. — Normally 4, but 5 have been recorded and 3 in second 

 layings, large, pyriform, varying from olive-green to brownish- 

 green, occasionally blue-green, with spots and blotches of brown 

 and ashy shell marks. Average of 100 eggs. 58.9x41.3. Max. : 

 65.1x41.7 and 57x44. Min. : 52x41.6 and 55.3x36 mm. 

 Breeding -season. — Latter part May and first half June. Incuba- 

 tion. — By both sexes. Period 21-25 days (Hantzsch). Single 

 brooded. 



Food. — Insects, including coleoptera, orthoptera (Forficula, Acheta, 

 etc.) and larvae of diptera ; worms (Lumbricus) and sand-worms 

 (Arenicola) ; Crustacea (small crabs, sandhoppers and shrimps) ; 

 mollusca, both land and marine (Helix ericetorum, Limax agrestis and 

 small marine univalves and bivalves). Also berries of Empetrum 

 nigrum and Vaccinium myrtillus. 



Distribution. — British Isles. — Summer -resident and passage- 

 migrant, end 2nd week April (early date March 24, 1887) to 2nd 

 week June, and 3rd week Julv (early dates Julv 7. 1910. Suffolk and 

 July 8, 1911, and 1912 Norfolk) to 4th week Nov. A few breed 

 Orkneys and Shetlands, said to have bred St. Kilda 1905, 

 probably formerly bred Flannan Isles, and apparently breeding- 

 birds have been seen North Bona (O. Hebrides), and possibly on 

 an islet off west Boss. No authentic case of breeding elsewhere. 

 Passage -migrant all coasts and often inland, exceptionally winter, 

 and a few non-breeders stay summer. 



Distribution. — Abroad. — Breeds in Iceland (also said sometimes 

 to winter), Faeroes, north Scandinavia, northern Russia and west 

 Siberia, occasionally in Greenland. Migrates through western 

 Palaearctic region and winters on coasts of Africa to Madagascar, 

 Seychelles, Comoros, Mauritius, Arabia, western India, some indi- 

 viduals remaining in whiter -quarters all the year round. Casual 

 Canaries, Madeira, Azores, once Sable Is. near Nova Scotia. 

 Replaced in north-east Asia by N. ph. variegatus. which migrates 

 to south-east Asia and Australia. N. ph. alboaxillaris has been 

 described from E. Africa but requires further study and confirma- 

 tion. 



