STONE-CURLEW. 63 
vibratory whistle may be heard at all hours 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. JBesides insects, chiefly Coleoptera, 
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 tq 
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 line of soldiers does. 
* Mr. Newcome tells me that the warreners say that when 
they find the curlew caught in traps, they also find frogs which 
they have “ spued up.” 
