Page:White - The natural history of Selborne, and the naturalist's calendar, 1879.djvu/420

398 adapted either to flying or walking. The lesser crested grebe was also found in a fresh water pond which had no communication with other water at some miles' distance from the sea.—.

STONE-CURLEW. On the 27th February, 1788, stone-curlews were heard to pipe: and on March 1st, after it was dark, some were passing over the village, as might be perceived by their quick short note, which they use in their nocturnal excursions by way of watchword, that they may not stray and lose their companions.

Thus, we see, that retire whithersoever they may in the winter, they return again early in the spring, and are, as it now appears, the first summer birds that come back. Perhaps the mildness of the season may have quickened the emigration of the curlews this year.

They spend the day in high elevated fields and sheep walks; but seem to descend in the night to streams and meadows, perhaps for water, which their upland haunts do not afford them.—. On the 31st January, 1792, I received a bird of this species which had been recently killed by a neighbouring farmer, who said he had frequently seen it in his fields during the former part of the winter: this perhaps was an occasional straggler, which by some accident was prevented from accompanying its companions in their migration.—.

THE SMALLEST UNCRESTED WILLOW WREN. The smallest uncrested willow wren, or chiff-chaff, is the next early summer bird which we have remarked; it utters two sharp piercing notes, so loud in hollow woods, as to occasion an echo, and is usually first heard about the 20th March.—. This bird, which Mr. White calls the smallest willow-wren or chiff-chaff, makes its appearance very early in the spring, and is