101.  THICK-KNEE. Oedicnemus scolopax, S.G.  Gmelin.  French, “Oedicneme criard,” “Poule d’Aurigny."[17]—­The Thick-knee, Stone Curlew, or Norfolk Plover, as it is called, though only an occasional visitant, is much more common than the Little Bustard; indeed, Mr. MacCulloch says that “it is by no means uncommon in winter.  The French call it ’Poule d’Aurigny,’ from which one might suppose it was more common in this neighbourhood than elsewhere.”  Miss C.B.  Carey records one in the ‘Zoologist’ as killed in November, and Mr. Couch another as having been shot on the 31st December.  I have also seen one or two hanging up in the market, and others at Mr. Couch’s, late in November; and one is recorded in the ‘Guernsey Mail and Telegraph’ as having been shot by Mr. De Putron, of the Catel, on the 3rd January, 1879.  From these dates, as well as from Mr. MacCulloch’s remark that it is not uncommon in the winter, it would appear that—­as in the Land’s End district in Cornwall—­the Thick-knee reverses the usual time of its visits to the British Islands, being a winter instead of a summer visitant; and probably for the same reason, namely, that the latitude of the Channel Islands, like that of Cornwall, is about the same as that of its most northern winter range on the Continent.

Professor Ansted includes it in his list, but only marks it as occurring in Guernsey.  There is one specimen in the Museum.

102.  PEEWIT. Vanellus vulgaris, Bechstein.  French, “Vanneau huppe.”—­The Peewit is a common and rather numerous autumn and winter visitant to all the Islands, though I have never seen it in such large flocks as in some parts of England, especially in Somerset.  Those that do come to the Islands appear to take very good care of themselves, for I have always found them very difficult to get a shot at, and very few make their appearance in the market.  Though generally a winter visitant, I have seen occasional stragglers in summer.  On the 9th July this year (1878), for instance, I saw one fly by me in L’Ancresse Bay; this was either a young bird, or, if an adult, was not in breeding plumage, as I could clearly see that the throat was white—–­ not black, as in the adult in breeding plumage.  A few days afterwards, July 19th, another—­or, perhaps, the same—­was shot by some quarry-men on the common; this was certainly a young bird of the year, and I had a good opportunity of looking at it.  In spite of occasional stragglers of this sort making their appearance in the summer, I have never been able to find that the Peewit breeds on any of the Islands; but, by the 9th of July, stragglers, both old and young, might easily come from the opposite coast of Dorsetshire, where a good many breed, or from the north of France.

Professor Ansted includes the Peewit in his list, but only marks it as occurring in Guernsey.  There is no specimen in the Museum at present.