128 . CURLEW 



Derby — though sparingly. In Yorkshire it is more numerous, and 

 thence to the extreme north of Scotland, as well as throughout 

 Ireland, it is, under the name of Whaup, familiar to those who 

 have occasion to traverse the wild and desolate tracts that best suit 

 its habits. So soon as the young are able to shift for themselves, 

 both they and their parents resort to the sea-shore or mouths of 

 rivers, from the muddy fiats of which they at low tide obtain their 

 living, and, though almost beyond any other birds wary of 

 approach, form an object of pursuit to numerous gunners. While 

 leading this littoral life the food of the Curlew seems to consist of 

 almost anything edible that presents itseK. It industriously probes 

 the mud or sand in quest of the worms that lurk therein, and is 

 also active in seeking for such crustaceans and mollusks as can be 

 picked up on the surface, while vegetable matter as well has been 

 found in its stomach. During its summer-sojourn on the moor- 

 lands insects and berries, when they are ripe, enter largely into its 

 diet. In bulk the Curlew is not less than a Crow, but it looks 

 larger still from its long legs, wings, and neck. Its bill, from 5 to 

 7 inches in length, and terminating in the deKcate nervous 

 apparatus common to all birds of its Family, is especially its most 

 remarkable feature. Its plumage above is of a drab colour 

 streaked and mottled with very dark brown ; beneath it is white, 

 while the flight-quills are of a brownish black. 



Nearly allied to the Curlew, but smaller and with a more 

 northern range, is the Whimbrel, N. phmopus, called in some parts 

 Jack-Curlew, from its small size — May-fowl, from the month in 

 which it usually arrives — and Titterel from one of its cries.^ This 

 so much resembles the former in habit and appearance that no 

 fiu-ther details need be given of it. In the countries bordering on 

 the Mediterranean occurs a third species, N. tenuirostris, the home 

 of which has yet to be ascertained. Some 15 other species, or 

 more, have been described, but Mr. Seebohm (Geogr. Distrib. Chara- 

 driidx, p. 321) admits but 11 in all with 2 "subspecies." The 

 genus Numenius is almost cosmopolitan. In North America three 

 very easily recognized species are found — the first, N. longirostris, 

 closely agreeing with the European Curlew, but larger and with a 

 longer bill ; the second, JV. hudsmiicus, representing our Whimbrel ; 

 and the third, N. borecdis, which has several times found its way to 

 Britain, very much less in size. All these essentially agree with 

 the species of the Old World in habit ; but it is remarkable that 

 the American birds can be easily distinguished by the rufous colour- 

 ing of their axillary feathers — a feature which is also presented by 

 the American GoDWiTS (Limosa). A very singular peculiarity is 

 afforded by N. fahiticnsis or femoralis, a species which seems to have 



^ The name Spowe (c/. Icelandic Sp6i) also seems to have been anciently given 

 to this bird (see Stevenson's Birds of X or folk, ii. p. 201). 



