S T O N E -C U R L EW , O R T H IC K -K N E E .
STONE-CURLEW or THICK-KNEE.
(EDICNEMUS SCOLOPAX {S. G. Gmelin).
Charadrius scolopax, S. G. Gmelin, Reise durch Russland, iii.
p. 87 (1774).
Charadrius osdicnemus, Linn. S. N. i. p. 255 (1766).
(Edicnemus crepitans, Naum, vii. p. 92; Macg. iv. p. 77;
Hewitson, i. p. 288.
(Edicnemus scolopax, Yarr, ed. 4, iii. p. 225 ; Dresser, vii.
p. 401.
(Edicneme criard, French; Triel, German; Alcaravan,
Spanish.
This bird is a vernal visitor to those parts of our
country that it affects for breeding purposes, but in
Cornwall it is said to appear in autumn, and frequently
remains on the moorlands of that county throughout the
winter. The districts chiefly favoured by this species
during the summer are chalk-downs, sandy warrens,
heaths, and extensive fallows, and it is only to be met
with casually and uncommonly upon heavy lands, generally
at the periods of migration. We found it in some
numbers on the Wiltshire downs between Salisbury and
Devizes in the early spring, and took several with the
Talcons of the “ Old Hawking Club.” In West Norfolk,