320 Allen's naturalist's library. 



of the Indian Peninsula in winter. The absence of the black 

 stripes on the lower back and rump is simply caused by the 

 fact that the birds are killed in winter plumage before the 

 black stripes, which are part of the summer dress, have begun 

 to develop. In winter the Curlew also visits the countries of 

 the Mediterranean, Africa, and Madagascar. 



Habits.— The following excellent account of the Curlew hns 

 been given by the late Mr. Seebohm: — " In summer, when it has 

 retired to the heaths and mountain-marshes, it rises, screaming 

 in the air at the least alarm, arousing all its companions in the 

 vicinity, so that soon the whole swamp or heath resounds with 

 their wild impressive cries. The Curlew flies with great quick- 

 ness, flapping its long wnngs with regular beats, or sometimes 

 holding them motionless and expanded as it glides along 

 for a few yards ere alighting. The wings are bent at a con- 

 siderable angle, the neck outstretched, the bill slightly de- 

 pressed, but the legs are extended straight, and show beyond 

 the tail. As a rule the Curlew flies high ; when flushed it soon 

 mounts into the air, and at times performs various graceful evo- 

 lutions above its marshy haunts. Upon the ground the Curlew 

 wa'ks about in a solemn Heron-like manner, only occasionally 

 running, as if such a mode of progression were beneath its 

 dignity. It often wades on the little pools on the marshes or 

 sea-shore, and bathes frequently. It is very fond of basking 

 in the sun on some exposed sand bank, where it can easily 

 detect the approach of danger. It is very seldom that the 

 actions of the Curlew on the ground can be watched in sum- 

 mer, when the bird is in its breeding haunts ; it is so excessively 

 wary that it generally takes wing long before it is observed, and 

 it so much resembles the colour of its surroundings that it is 

 almost invisible until it takes wing. Its feeding-grounds on the 

 moors are in marshy spots, near the dark brown peaty pools, 

 where rushes grow so thickly as to hide it from view, or by the 

 side of the little trout-streams that dance and dash along over 

 the heath. Here its actions and mode of progression are very 

 similar to those on the shore ; it probes the soil in search of 

 food, and explores the surrounding herbage for a similar 

 purpose. Every now and then it raises its long neck above the 

 vegetation, looking warily around, as if scenting danger from 

 afar, ready at the least alarm to fly hastily away to safer 



