In plumage it is very similar to the Curlew, but may always be distinguished by having the crown of a uniform dark brown with a pale stripe down the centre. It is also a much smaller species. Length 17·5 in.; bill 3·4 in.; wing 10 in.
CURLEW
Numenius arquata
THE ESKIMO CURLEW
Numenius borealis (J. F. Forster)
The home of this bird is in Arctic America, and some eight or nine examples have been procured in this country.
In appearance it is rather like a small Whimbrel, but it may be recognised by the absence of barring on the primaries, no white on the rump, transverse arrow-head markings on the under parts, and the axillaries being chestnut barred with brown. Length 14 in.; wing 8·25 in.
THE BLACK TERN
Hydrochelidon nigra (Linnæus)
Up till the middle of last century the Black Tern was a regular summer visitor to our shores, remaining to breed in the fens and marshes of England. For the last forty years, however, it has only occurred on passage, the adult birds passing through in April and May, and flocks in immature plumage being found along the east coast in the autumn. To the west of England and Scotland it is a very irregular visitor, and the same may be said of Ireland.
It nests in colonies on inland marshes, the nest being an accumulation of decaying vegetation floating on the surface of the water. The eggs, three in number, are olive green blotched with dark brown. Its food consists largely of aquatic insects and their larvæ, dragon-flies and such like, but it also feeds readily on small fish.
South of the Baltic it breeds in suitable localities throughout Europe, migrating from its more northerly summer quarters to Africa.