COMMON CURLEW. 195 
that month. Between the 25th and 30th of July, I 
have also watched small parties flying low over the sea 
at Cromer, keeping steadily on in a south-westerly 
direction, but rarely exceeding six in number, as if 
young and old together. Later still in the autumn, 
their migratory movements are evidenced by their 
cries, as, (attendant on, or mingling with, large flocks 
of golden and green plover,* redshanks, &c.), they 
pass over our towns and cities by night, attracted and 
bewildered by the glare of the lamps; chance stragglers, 
also, when thus calling to their mates, will frequently 
answer to a whistle in imitation of their notes. In like 
manner attracted by our light-houses and light-ships on 
the coast, they are heard, at times, flying round and 
round for hours, but as far as I can ascertain are never 
known to “strike the glasses,” as is the case with 
many other species.t In winter during hard weather 
their numbers are greatly increased from the north, 
most of which continue their course southward should 
the frost continue, but even in the sharpest weather 
I have seen them on Breydon in considerable num- 
bers, and the gunners are not slow to take advantage 
of their miserable plight when tamed by cold and 
hunger. As a rule, however, the curlew is a most difficult 
species to approach, especially when feeding in large 
bodies, and their loud warning cries alarm many other 
birds that might otherwise afford a shot. Even in a 
punt, as Mr. Dowell remarks, it is not easy to get 
within range of them, “as they usually sit some short. 
way from the water, and their height enables them to 
* See antea, pp. 71-76. 
+ This fact was particularly mentioned to me by a very intel- 
ligent watchman, at Lowestoft High-light, who had been formerly 
at Orford-ness, and who, from a personal interest in the subject, 
afforded me much information. 
2c2 
