SCOLOPACIDJi. 
321 
ORA LLA TORES. 
SCOLOPA CIBAE. 
WHIMBREL. 
Numenius phceopus. 
PLATE LXXXVII. FIG. I. 
The Whimbrel, like the closely allied species, the cur¬ 
lew, breeds in those wild desolate districts which are 
usually far distant from human habitation; on open 
moors, and uncultivated 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 coal. 
The Whimbrel is a rare bird throughout the British 
Islands during the months of summer. Mr. Salmon says 
that it breeds in Orkney, but he did not meet with its 
nest during his visit to those islands. We had great dif¬ 
ficulty in obtaining the eggs in Shetland ; and, although 
we traversed and diligently examined most of the islands 
of the group, we only met with them upon two,—those 
of Yell and Hascosea, — but on these in very small and 
rapidly decreasing numbers, for there even the eggs, 
like those of the peewit farther south, are gathered for 
the delicacy of their flavour. We met with the eggs of 
this species upon one of the larger islands which we visit¬ 
ed on the coast of Norway. 
The nest of the Whimbrel is nothing more than a 
slight depression in the surface of the ground. We 
