SCOLOPACID. 369 
tainly more resembles the two first-mentioned 
species of the Scolopacide than it does any of the 
Ardeide. 
Family ScoLopacip2. 
The Scolopacide, the family of Waders at which 
we have now arrived, is numerous in British spe- 
cies, containing as many as thirty-six, out of which 
I have been able to include as many as twenty-one 
amongst the Birds of Somerset. 
Common CurLEw, Numenius arquata. The Com- 
mon Curlew, the first of the family that claims our 
attention, is numerous all along our coast during 
the winter; but the greater part, if not all, of them 
leave us in the summer: a few, however, remain to 
breed in the wild hill country in the West around 
Dunkerry Beacon and Exmoor. On the mud about 
Burnham and the mouth of the Parret very large 
flocks of Curlews collect in the winter; and an occa- 
sional shot may be had at them as they are driven 
by the rising tide from the soft mud towards the 
firmer ground; but they are very wild, and anyone 
wishing for a shot must conceal himself, long before 
high water, near a likely spot, and he perfectly still 
till the birds come within range. When they are 
actually driven off the mud by the tide they gene- 
rally retire for a short distance inland to the neigh- 
bouring turnip-fields and water-meadows; a few, 
