STONE-CURLEW. 
CEDICNEMUS CREPITANS. 
So many different names are given to this speeies by writers on British ornithology that it is somewhat 
difficult to decide on the most appropriate title to bestow upon it. As the Stone-Curlew, it is referred to 
by Yarrell, Seehohm, Dresser, and Stevenson, while Ilancock, Morris, Gray, Knox, Thompson, and the 
inimitable Bewick call it the Great Plover. In Gould’s magnificently illustrated work on the ‘ Birds of Great 
Britain ’ it is described with a more imposing appellation as the Thick-kneed Bustard, and the persevering 
Highlander, THlliam Macgillivray, writes of it under the heading of the Stone Thick-knee. Several of 
these naturalists add the name of Norfolk Plover, and C. J. and James Paget, in their ‘ Sketch of the Natural 
Histoiy of Aarmouth and its Neighbourhood,’ published in 1831, make the following observation concerning 
this species : — “ (Edicnemus crepitans, common thick-hiee, Norfolk i^lover — rarely met with here.” The Rev. 
Richard Lubbock, in his ‘ Observations on the Pauna of Norfolk,’ issued in 1818, gives a short account that 
appears to have escaped the notice of all other writers, and may consequently prove interesting to the readers of 
‘ Rough Notes : “ I should have mentioned a bird immediately after I spoke of the Bustard, which is very 
local in its habits, and being as plentiful in parts of our county as anywhere in England, has obtained the 
name of Norfolk Plover,— the general term is Stoke Curlew {Charadrius oedicnemus). In comparison with 
the numbers of these birds which are seen congregated in autumn, they appear very scarce throughout the 
summer. The open heaths and very large fields adjoining are their favourite haunts. The young follow their 
parents when full grown, and the strongest attachment seems to subsist between them. One was shot this 
last summer in an open field near my house, and being only slightly wounded in the pinion, was run down 
with some difficulty, brought home alive, and turned into a walled garden. Next morning at sunrise, 
according to habit, the prisoner was very clamorous, uttering its peculiar cry repeatedly for about an hour! 
T\ hen the servants rose, a young bird was observed in the courtyard, within a few yards of the house, pacing 
backwards and forwards under the garden wall, which must have come either through an open doorway or 
through a thick clipped fence; for, though nearly full grown, its powers of flight seemed imperfectly 
developed. Repeated attempts were made for hours to take it, which it eluded by swiftness of foot, and hid 
itself among the shrubs, returning again to the wall as soon as disturbance ceased. At last, by careful 
watching, it was driven into a corner and secured. Being turned into the garden, it seemed delighted to rejoin 
the parent, whose cry must have brought it nearly half a mile. The most singular part of the affair was, that, 
as the day. advanced, the Plover in the garden was totally silent; hut this had no effect in causing its young 
one to leave the place ; having once discovered the place of captivity, it seemed determined to share the 
prison at all hazards. Mr. Paget, as his catalogue has reference to the vicinity of Yarmouth, justly notes 
this bird as rare ; but towards Thetford and Swaffham, where the country is open, it is abundant. It may 
be observed in parties of from 80 to 100 before its migration. The greatest allurement to them is an 
extensive new plantation made in the open country, and on the improved plan of double trenchinf^ the 
