32 2 BRITISH BIRDS. 
middle of each feather there is a dark ftreak ; the 
fore part of the neck and breaft- are nearly the 
fame, but much paler ; the belly, thighs, and vent 
are of a pale yellowilh white ; the quills are black ; 
the tail is Ihort and rounded — a dark band crolfes 
the middle of each feather, the tips are black, the 
reft white ; the legs are yellow, and naked above 
the knees, which are very thick, as if fwelled— 
hence its name ; the claws are black. 
This bird is found in great plenty in Norfolk 
and feveral of the fouthern counties, but is nd 
where. to be met with in the northern parts of our 
illand ; it prefers dry and ftony places, on the fides 
of Hoping banks : It makes no neft ; the female 
lays two or three eggs on the bare ground, fhelter- 
ed by a ftone, or in a fmall hole formed in the 
fand ; they are of a dirty white, marked with fpots 
of a deep reddifli colour, mixed with flight ftreaks. 
Although this bird has great power of wing, and 
flies with great ftrength, it is feldom feen during 
the day, except furprifed, when it fprings to fome 
diftance, and generally efcapes before the fportf- 
man comes within gun-fhot ; it likewife runs on 
the ground almoft as fwift as a dog;, after running 
fome time it flops fhort, holding its head and body 
ftill, and on the leaft noife fquats clofe on the 
ground. In the evening it comes out in queft of 
food, and may then be heard at a great diftance ; 
its cry is fmgular, refembling a hoarfe kind of 
whiffle three or four times repeated, and has been 
