72 Baby Birds at Home 



of April, Curlews leave the seashore, and 

 resort to the fells, moors, and uplands, 

 where they pair for the breeding season. It 

 is then you hear to perfection their wild, 

 musical notes, the commonest of which 

 sounds like " corlieu " or " curlew" 



The nest is made on the ground, and 

 consists of a few short bits of dead grass, 

 or rushes placed in a slight hollow. 



Four eggs are nearly always laid, 

 although on some occasions only three are 

 found. They are olive green, or brownish 

 buff, marked with blackish brown, and dark 

 green spots. 



Baby Curlews are covered with down 

 and leave the nest directly they are hatched, 

 and, as they are strong and long in the leg, 

 are well equipped for walking about in the 

 grass, short heather, or rushes. Curiously 

 enough, when young, their bills are neither 

 long nor curved, as you will see from the 

 accompanying illustration. 



If the mother bird should see anything 

 dangerous approaching whilst her young 

 ones are running about with her, she sounds 

 her alarm note and they all instantly crouch 

 down and hide. 



