retiring occasionally to the flats to rest and bathe, “ being,” adds Mr. Stevenson, “ particularly fond of
washing and splashing the water over their plumage with their wings.”
“ This is the only one of the Scolopacidse,” says Thompson, “ which can be 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 flockssalong the line o f the eastern coast, on that
of Wexford, Dublin, Louth, Down, Antrim, &c. As the Whimbrel 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 coast. Thus they are very common in April and May near Tralee, in Kerry, appear
in large flocks about Roundstone, on the Galway coast, in May, and remain during th at month where they
are unknown at other times. They likewise take an inland course o f flight, appearing, among other places,
at the marshes below Kilfifloe, on the Shannon, every spring, and in the high moory ground about Lough
Conn, in Mayo. Their popular name everywhere has the word May connected with it, as May-bird,
May-fowl, &c., in consequence o f their appearance in that month. On their arrival in spring they
are often very tame, and may be openly approached within gun-shot; but persecution soon makes them
wild. They generally remain from four to six weeks, then depart, and reappear again very soon after
the breedmg-season, generally about the middle o f 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, Wbimbrels generally keep by themselves;
but in autumn they exhibit a very sociable disposition, and are frequently to be found in company with
Curlews mid Godwits. They fly much about during the autumnal nights, be they dark or moonlight, but
prefer the latter. They may always be distinguished by their cry. They fly from the sea inland as
well as the opposite direction, ahd take both courses during every turn o f the tid e; hence we may
consider them to be night-feeding birds/’
“ In the beginning o f May,” says Macgillivray, “ a few individuals of this species make their appearance
here and there on the sandy pastures bordering the west coast o f the long range of the Outer Hebrides,
from one end to the other. Their numbers daily increase, until, in about a week, they are in many
places very numerous. Their food consists of Bulirms acutus and Helix eticetorum, which are very abundant
there. They walk, for the most part, sedately, hut sometimes with . alacrity, having their neck bent
forward, and their regards fixed on the ground? I f alarmed, they stand, elevate their heads, emit a shrill
tremulous cry, and perhaps fly off, or presently resume their search. I f surprised, they are clamorous
IU their flight, but usually alight at no great distance. When on the wing they display the whit*; part
of the back conspicuously, and have a beautiful appearance.”
“ The Whimbrel,” remarks Mr. Hewitson, “ breeds iu wild, desolate districts, 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 isiijh such places, a substitute for coal.
“ The nest is nothing more than a slight depression in the surface o f the ground. We might expect
that the eggs, like those o f all the allied species, would be four in number; but none o f the nests I have
myself examined contained more than th re e ; as these were all fresh, the number was probably incomplete.'-’
The late Mr. Wolley informed Mr. Hewitson that “ iu the Faroe Islands the Whimbrel ¿ ¿ v e r y
abundant®and is always flying round just out o f sh o t; in the north o f Sweden and Finland it is to be
seen 111, most of the open marshes, and is very noisy, especially when sitting a t the top of a tree or
stake (for it also frequents places where there is a good deal o f wood). Yet I have never happened to
be present a t the finding of more than two n e s ts ; 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’
elusion that the Whimbrel lays only three. The eggs are pear-shaped, very like those o f the Curlew, but
smaller, and are o f a dark olive-brown, blotched with darker brown.
I am indebted to Mr. J . Edmund Harting for a fine example o f this bird, killed by him on the 11th
w m W 0 ’ B H H Harbollr’ “ Sussex, to which, he states, the bird is “ a regular visitant in May
and August,” as he believes is the case along the whole o f our south coasts. “ In May, only the old
birds are seen; in August, both old and young make their appearance. The young admit o f a nearer
approach than the old ones, and are good eat in o'.”
The birds in the accompanying Plate are about the size o f life.