my history of the stone-curlew ; which I hope will 

 prove to your satisfaction, as it will be, I trust, very 

 near the truth. 



It is very extraordinary, as you observe, that a 

 bird so common with us should never straggle to 

 you. 



After a lapse of twenty years, Mr. White adds : 

 [On the 27th of February, 1788, stone-curlews were 

 heard to pipe; and on March ist, after it was dark, 

 some were passing over the village, as might be per- 

 ceived from their quick short note, which the}^ use 

 in their nocturnal excursions by way of watchword, 

 that they may not stray and lose their companions. 



Thus, we see, that retire whithersoever they may 

 in the winter, they return again early in the spring, 

 and are, as it now appears, the first summer birds 

 that come back. Perhaps the mildness of the sea- 

 son may have quickened the emigration of the cur- 

 lews this year. 



They spend the day in high elevated fields and 

 sheep-walks ; but seem to descend in the night to 

 streams and meadows, perhaps for water, which 

 their upland haunts do not afford them.] — OBSER- 

 VATIONS ON Nature. 



And here will be the properest place to mention, 

 while I think of it, an anecdote which the above- 

 mentioned gentleman told me when I was last at his 

 house ; which was that, in a warren joining to his 



outlet, many daws {Corvi inonedulce) build every j^ear 



80 



