LITTLE WHIMBREL. 
dark shaft-streaks, becoming coarser on the breast and sides of the body where 
the feathers are barred with brown ; middle of abdomen inclining to white ; the long 
under tail-coverts buffy-white barred with brown like the axillaries and under 
wing-coverts ; bill blackish-brown, base of lower mandible flesh-colour ; iris 
blackish-brown, tarsi and feet lead-grey. Total length 333 mm. ; culmen 43, 
wing 182, tail 68, tarsus 60. 
Adult female. Similar to the male but slightly larger : culmen 48, wing 184, tail 75, 
tarsus 53. 
Nest and Eggs. Undescribed. 
“ Breeds evidently on upper Yana (near Verkhojansk, about 67|° N.) and middle 
Lena. Not further south than about 59° N.”* 
Mr. J. P. Rogers found this species far from rare in North-west Australia. 
They were often found in flocks with Lhnnocinclus acuminatus. None were 
seen after February. 
Mr. Tom Carter writes : “It may be only coincidence, but the only 
occasions on which the Little Whimbrel came under my notice were in drought 
periods. In the summer of 1890 many small flocks were seen about Point 
Cloates mostly on salt marshes, and I observed several that had been kill ed 
hj flying against wire fences. Their next appearance was in 1896 when a 
drought also reigned. Many were seen and some shot in the months of 
September and October.” 
“ While stroUing along the path on the top of the cliffs near our house 
[Chefoo, North China] I observed a small Curlew on an earthy mound in the 
grass, under the waU of the old Consulate enclosure. As we drew near it flew 
off, uttering a loud ‘ teo, teo,’ somewhat hke the notes of the Greenshank 
but with a little of the Curlew wail in it. It flew round about, and perched 
near again, until again disturbed.”! 
Styan {Ibis, 1891, p. 608) : “ Passes Shanghi in April. I shot a single 
one at Kiukiang, 30th September.” 
“ On the open plains near Derby [North-west Australia] these birds 
were often noticed. Their mode of flight against the wind closely resembles 
that of the domestic Pigeon. In alighting on the ground they immediately 
become very active in their search for food, which consists of insects, especially 
grass-hoppers and a few small seeds.”! 
“ In 1899, although arriving at Clare Valley [North Queensland] early 
in November, they were not numerous till past midsummer. By the end of 
January flocks of 20 or 30 might be seen and these increased by 6th March 
to flocks of seven or eight hundred. By 6th April they had all gone again. 
* Buturlin, Emu, Vol. XL, p. 97, 1911. 
t Swinhoe, Ibis 1875, p. 132. 
J Keartland, Trans. Roy. Soc. S. Austr., Vol. XXII., p. 161, 1898. 
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