20D THE ESQUIMAUX CURLEW IN SCOTLAND. 



tliem ; for they would alight so near us, or pass over our heads at so short a 

 distance, that we easily shot them. While on the wing, they emitted an oft- 

 repeated, soft, whistling note ; but the moment they alighted they became 

 silent. They ran swiftly along, all in the same direction, picldng up the 

 berries in their way ; and when pursued, would immediately squat in the 

 manner of a Snipe or Partridge, sometimes even laying their neck and head 

 quite flat on the ground, until you came within a short distance, when, at a 

 single note from any one of the flock, they would all immediately scream 

 and fly ofl". . . . They rose from the ground by a single quick spring in the 

 manner of a Snipe, Avhen they would cut backward, forward, and all round, 

 in a very curious manner, and would now and then pause in the air like a 

 Hawk, remaining stationary for a few moments, with their head meeting the 

 wind, when immediately after they Avould all suddenly alight." (Aud.) While 

 on their passage to the south, they fly high, and with their usual speed ; but 

 in no regular form, such as a flock of Wild-geese would assume, sometimes 

 presenting an extended front, and sometimes closing up into a dense mass. 



On its partly animal, partly vegetable diet, this Curlew appears to thrive 

 admirably, as it is usually extremely fat and juicy, and aff'ords excellent 

 eating. From this circumstance it has, according to Audubon, probably ac- 

 quired the name of " Dough-bird," under which designation it is commonly 

 known to the inhabitants of Massachusetts, although it holds tlie name in 

 common with several other birds. Mr. Smith's specimen, contrary to what 

 might have been expected, was so plump, that, to use the homely expression 

 of the bird-stuffer, " the very oil was running out of it; " for these far-come 

 strangers are more usually in the sorry, half-starved plight of the Spur- 

 winged Goose, ( Plectropterus Oamhensis,) obtained in Banffshire, by that very 

 enthusiastic naturalist, Mr. Edward ; or even are so exhausted by their 

 fatigue as to be found dead, like the Barbary Partridge, near Melton-Mow- 

 bray ; or the Purple Water-hen, near Brandon. 



The Copper Indians have a belief that this bird, with several others, be- 

 trays the appi'oach of strangers to the Esquimaux ; which may be explained, 

 in Dr. Eichardson's opinion, by the circumstance, that this persecuted people 

 will be on the alert, whenever they perceive a bird flying anxiously backwards 

 and forwards over a particular spot, as our Lapwing is in the habit of doing. 



The Esquimaux Curlew breeds in flat, low, marshy ground, laying three or 

 four pear-shaped eggs of a siskin green colour, with a few irregular spots 

 of bright umber-brown. Audubon says nothing of their nidification ; in- 

 deed, he laments that he is unable to give a complete history of the bird 

 from personal obseiwation ; but this want is supplied by Dr. Eichardson, 

 who obtained their eggs when on the expedition to the northern regions, the 

 zoology of which is so well described in the " Fauna Boreali-Americana." 



Curiously enough, the several species of European Curlews, although they 

 have an almost proverbially wide range, are unknown in North America, 



