STOISTE -CURLEW. 63 



vibratory wliistle may be heard at all lioiirs of the night. 

 By moonlight their cries become even more incessant, 

 and amongst many treasured recollections of rural sights 

 and sounds, is the delight with which, on the 21st of 

 May, 1864, I first heard them, at West Harling, under 

 circumstances peculiarly favourable to a lasting impres- 

 sion, for 



" Summer was the time, and sweet the hour." 

 when, long after midnight, I still sat listening at my 

 open window as, borne on the soft breeze from the neigh- 

 bouring ^^Breck" lands, their tremulous notes blended 

 with the wail of the lapwing ; and, in strange contrast 

 to such wild melody, the rich soft notes of the night- 

 ingale came up from the garden, whilst the air was 

 filled with the scent of the honeysuckle, and paths, 

 shrubs, and buildings, shone white in the reflection of 

 the full moon. 



"Whether or not these birds, as stated by some 

 authors, leave the uplands towards evening, and seek 

 food and water in the low meadows, I cannot say, but 

 in this instance, undoubtedly, the cries of the curlews 

 came from the same lands where I had observed them 

 during the day. Besides insects, chiefly Goleoptera, 

 they are said to feed on snails, slugs, and worms ;^ and 

 Messrs. Gurney and Fisher mention the forceps of 

 several earwigs, as found by them in the stomach of 

 one specimen. Another dissected lately by Mr. T. E. 

 Gunn, contained some fibrous matter, mixed with frag- 

 ments of coleopterous insects, and a few small pebbles. 



always faces the spectator, and presents the smallest surface to 

 his eye. To follow the movements of the intruder, the bird moves 

 its feet very rapidly, not altering its relative position, but just as 

 the " pivot man" of a hne of soldiers does. 



* Mr. Newcome tells me that the warreners say that when 

 they find the cui-lew caught in traps, they also find frogs which 

 they have " spued up." 



