>I agree that Thick-knee is a bad name as their knees are not particularly
>thick. Curlew I suppose refers to the call, but 'stone'? More (sandy)
>beaches and (stonefree) bush if you ask me, although I've seen Bush
>Stone-Curlews just as often by the beach.
>John Leonard
>PO Box 243, Woden, ACT 2606, AUSTRALIA
>
I think the "stone" part refers to the stony habitat of the European
species, at least in Britain. It is of course inappropriate for most
Burhinus spp.
Unfortunately this is one of those groups for which there is no satisfactory
vernacular name. Thick-knee is anatomically inaccurate (as is its South
African equivalent, Dikkop); Curlew is taxonomically inaccurate.
--
Ronald I. Orenstein Phone: (905) 820-7886 (home)
International Wildlife Coalition Fax/Modem: (905) 569-0116 (home)
Home: 1825 Shady Creek Court Messages: (416) 368-4661
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5L 3W2 Internet:
Office: 130 Adelaide Street W., Suite 1940
Toronto, Ontario Canada M5H 3P5
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