420 



SCOLOPACID^. 



announces the fact that a party of Curlews have discovered 

 that the ebb-tide is well advanced, and that their feeding 

 ground is uncovered. The stroller, if quietly disposed, 

 may chance to get a sight of the bii'ds themselves as they 

 arrive in small flocks from the inland meadows ; and though 

 they mil probably be too cautious to venture within an 

 unsafe distance, they will most likely come quite close 



THE COMMON CURLEW. 



enough to be discriminated. Not the merest novice could 

 mistake them for Gulls ; for not only is their flight of a 

 different character, but the bill, which is thick enough to 

 be distinguished at a considerable distance, is disproportion- 

 ately long, and is curved to. a remarkable degi*ee. Curlews 

 are in the habit of selecting as their feeding ground 



