retiring occasionally to the flats to rest and bathe, “ being,” adds Mr. Stevenson, “ partieularly fond of 
washing and splashing the water over their plumage with their wings.” 
“Ibis is the only one of the Scolopacidse,” says Thompson, “ whieh ean he characterized in general 
terms as a bird of double passage, only visiting us merely on migration to and from its breeding-haunts. 
In the month of April or May it appears in large flocks along the line of the eastern eoast, on that 
of Wexford, Dublin, Louth, Down, Antrim, See. As the Whimhrel is not found to the westward within 
the latitude of Ireland, it is interesting to know that these migratory bodies move as regularly along the 
western as the eastern eoast. Thus they are very com.mon in April and May near Tralee, in Kerry, appear 
in large flocks about Roundstone, on the Galway coast, in May, and remain during that month where they 
are unknown at other times. They likewise take an inland course of flight, appearing, among other places, 
at the marshes below Killaloe, on the Shannon, every spring, and in the high moory ground about Lough 
Conn, in Mayo. Their popular name everywhere has the word 3Ia^ conneeted with it, as May-bird, 
May-fowl, See., in consequence of their appearance in that month. On their arrival in spring they 
are often very tame, and may be openly approached within gun-shot ; hut persecution soon makes them 
wild. They generally remain from four to six weeks, then depart, and reappear again very soon after 
the breeding-season, generally about the middle of July, their numbers gradually increasing from the 
time they are first seen. During August they are most numerous in the Bay of Belfast, from which 
they are chiefly gone by the end of September. In spring, Whimhrels generally keep by themselves ; 
hut in autumn they exhibit a very sociable disposition, and are frequently to be found in company with 
Curlews and Godwits. They fly much about during the autumnal nights, be they dark or moonlight, hut 
prefer the latter. They may always he distinguished by their cry. They fly from the sea inland as 
well as the opposite direetion, and take both courses during every turn of the tide ; hence we may 
consider them to he night-feeding birds.” 
“ In the beginning of May,” says Macglllivray, “ a few individuals of this species make their appearance 
here and there on the sandy pastures bordering the west coast of the long range of the Outer Hebrides, 
from one end to the other. Their numbers dally increase, until, in about a week, they are in many 
places very numerous. Their food consists of Bulhnus acutiis and Helix ericetonm, which are very abundant 
there. They walk, for the most part, sedately, but sometimes with alaerity, having their neck bent 
forward, and their regards fixed on the ground. If alarmed, they stand, elevate their heads, emit a shrill 
tremulous cry, and perhaps fly off, or presently resume their seareh. If surprised, they are clamorous 
in their flight, hut usually alight at no great distance. When on the wing they display the white part 
of the back conspicuously, and have a beautiful appearance.” 
“ The Whimhrel,” remarks Mr. Hewitson, “breeds in wild, desolate districts, far distant from human 
habitation, on open moors and uneultivated wastes, choosing in preference those which are wet and 
marshy and composed of moss and that black peaty soil which is, in such places, a substitute for eoal. 
“ The nest is nothing more than a slight depression in the surface of the ground. We might expeet 
that the eggs, like those of all the allied s])ecles, would he four in number ; hut none of the nests I have 
myself examined contained more than three ; as these were all fresh, the number was probably incomplete.” 
The late Mr. Wolley informed Mr. Hewitson that “ in the Faroe Islands the Whimhrel is very 
abundant, and is always flying round just out of shot ; iu the north of Sweden and Finland it is to he 
seen in most of the open marshes, and is very noisy, especially when sitting at the top of a tree or 
stake (for it also frequents places where there is a good deal of wood). Yet I have never happened to 
be present at the finding of more than two nests ; they were little more than depressions in the ground, 
and contained each three eggs only.” From this additional information we must come to the con- 
clusion that the Whimhrel lays only three. The eggs are pear-shaped, very like those of the Curlew, hut 
smaller, and are of a dark olive-brown, blotched with darker brown. 
I am indebted to Mr. J. Edmund Harting for a fine example of this bird, killed by him on the 11th 
of May 1870, in Pagham Harbour, in Sussex, to which, he states, the bird is “ a regular visitant in Mtiy 
and August,” as he believes is the case along the whole of our south coasts. “ In May, only the old 
birds are seen ; in August, both old and young make their appearance. The young admit of a nearer 
approaeh than the old ones, and are good eating.” 
The birds in the accompanying Plate are about the size of life. 
