312 COMMON THICK-KNEE. ✓ 
met with in Scotland, and Mr. Thompson places it, 
as an extremely rare visitant, to Ireland. In its 
more common periodical haunts, it appears in April 
and the beginning of May ; and, after breeding, 
takes its departure in October, previous to which 
it assembles in flocks like the plovers. There are 
instances mentioned, notwithstanding, of specimens 
being seen in December,* and of its appearance 
so early as February. + The eggs are deposited on 
the bare ground, without any nest, and generally 
in stony or shingly places ; and the fallows in some 
districts serve as breeding grounds. They are night- 
feeding birds, a habit indicated by their large and 
prominent eyes ; and while insects, particularly Co- 
leoptera, constitute a great portion of their food, 
during their residence in this country, worms, rep- 
tiles, and even small mammalia, are said to be also 
devoured by them. On the continent the species 
seems to be pretty generally, though locally spread, 
as a summer visitant. W e have it ranging to the 
plains between the Black and Caspian Seas,J to 
Asia Minor § and Madeira. || 
A specimen before us, procured from Norfolk, 
has the upper parts yellowish- brown ; the centre of 
each feather umber-brown, dilating at the base, and 
running along the shaft to the tip ; on the shoulders 
the dark tints are deeper, and a series of feathers 
are barred with yellowish-white, which is apparent, 
and, from the contrast, show's a diagonal band across 
* Mr. J. D. Salmon. + Montague. + Hohenacher. 
§ Strickland. || Yarrell. 
