238 BIRDS OF LANCASHIRE. 



CUELEW. 



NuMENius ARQUATA (LinnsBus). 



The Curlew is a common resident, breeding more or 

 less plentifully on all the fells, and frequenting the 

 coast in winter in large numbers, where also many 

 birds may be seen the jea.Y round. Its nest is found 

 pretty regularly on some of the low-lying mosses, and 

 on Chat Moss it occasionally breeds {Report Bury Nat. 

 Hist. Soc, 1871), whilst on those of Cockerham, Foul- 

 shaw, &c., it is a constant summer resident. In the 

 south of the county it is only observed on passage, and 

 as far north as Burnley it is rarely seen even on the 

 higher lands, for, as Mr. H. Kerr remarks on the 

 Eossendale district, the neighbourhood of the manufac- 

 turing towns, and the fact of the moors being open to 

 all, and intersected by footpaths, are quite sufficient 

 reasons for the scarcity of all shy and wary species like 

 the present. On Pendle Hill there are always a few 

 pairs, and it breeds commonly on all the fells which form 

 the gathering ground of the Hodder, the Wyre, and the 

 Lune, becoming especially numerous on those at the 

 head of Croasdale. Mr. T. Altham says, too, that it 

 appeared in 1880 on Longridge Fell, and that in 1882 

 there were three pairs breeding there. On the Furness 

 Fells it is common, and many birds here doubtless feed 

 on the coast, but as a rule the Curlew does not travel 

 far when on its breeding-ground, and in winter it 

 remains entirely by the sea, not passing to and fro 

 according to the weather, as is the habit of the Lap- 

 wing. The migratory movement begins in April, earlier 

 if it be a mild spring, and the flocks may be heard 



