WHIMBREL
NUMENIUS PH^EOPUS {Linn.).
Scolopax phseopus, Linn. S. N. i. p. 243 (1766).
Numenius phseopus, Naum. viii. p. 506; Macg. iv. p. 253 ;
Yarr. ed. 4, iii. p. 507; Dresser, yiii. p. 227.
Numenius phoeopus, Hewitson, ii. p. 324.
Courlis, Courlieu, French; Regen-Brachvogel, German;
Zarapito menor, Zarapito, Spanish.
Although some of this species are to be met with on
our shores during the winter, the Whimbrel is generally-
known in England as a bird of double passage, appearing
in July, August, or September on the southward
migration, and again in May on its return to its
breeding-quarters in the north. In many parts of
England and Ireland it is known as the May-bird, but
"Jack-Curlew” and “ Half-Curlew” are perhaps the most
common names for it. In Northamptonshire large
numbers pass over us to the south-west in August and
September, and a few in late April or May; the
autumnal travellers seldom, if ever, alight in our neighbourhood,
but are sufficiently well known to have
acquired the local name of “ Seven-Whistlers ” from