418 THE BIRDS OF KENT 



severe the mobs soon become reduced; a few, however, 

 remain scattered along the coast in winter. 



Mr. W. H. Power, in liis Birds Observed at Rainhani, 

 1865, states : " The Curlews returned to the marshes 

 this autmnn about the second week in August. The 

 young birds, on their arrival, are not nearly so wild 

 as they afterwards become when collected into flocks, 

 and are killed in numbers by the fishermen and "mud- 

 diggers." Their mode of proceeding is to take with 

 them a trained dog, as much like a fox as possible ; after 

 hiding in a dyke they send the dog out on the mud- 

 flats left bare by the receding tide ; as soon as the Cur- 

 lews see the animal they almost invariably attack it, 

 flying round and round, uttering loud cries and occasion- 

 ally making a pounce at it. The dog, w^ho understands 

 his business well, beats a retreat towards the spot where 

 his master is hidden. The Curlews follow up their success 

 with vigour, but to their confusion, for as soon as they 

 are well within range the man shoots one, and reloading, 

 does the same again. So engaged are they with the dog 

 that sometimes as many as three are killed before the 

 others take themselves off. Should the sportsman (if he 

 may be so called), however, show himself during the 

 process, the birds would quickly be off. This mode of 

 shooting them can only be practised when they are in 

 small parties of four or five ; when in large flocks they do 

 not take the slightest notice of the dog, or of the " Curlew 

 whistle," which is also used to attract them. What is 

 the cause of their attacking the dogs in this manner ? Is 

 it aversion, curiosity, or fascination ? The fishermen 

 account for it by supposing that foxes are common in the 

 places where they are bred, and that they therefore have 

 good cause for their apparent anger and aversion." 



