COMMON CURLEW. 95 



regarded as subspecifically distinct, it must bear the name of Numenius 

 arquutus H neat us*. 



On the American continent the Curlew is represented by an allied 

 species, N. loiigirostris, -which is connected with it by a somewhat inter- 

 mediate form, N. cyanopus, frequenting the western shores of the Pacific. 

 Both these species may be distinguished by having the rump the same 

 colour as the back. 



The summer haunts of the Curlew are the moors and the wild open 

 heaths, not their driest parts, but the extensive swampy flats, where 

 reeds and rushes abound and tufts of cotton-grass relieve the monotony of 

 the surrounding bog. Sometimes the bird frequents the large open wastes 

 near the moorlands that are dignified with the name of mountain-pastures, 

 but its true home is amongst the heath. In winter it quits these upland 

 retreats and repairs to the coast, being especially abundant wherever the 

 shore is low and affords good feeding-ground. It frequents salt-marshes, 

 and loves the wide extensive mud-flats which are left at low water at the 

 mouths of rivers, but is occasionally found on more rocky coasts feeding 

 amongst the seaweed-covered stones or on the small patches of sand. Few 

 birds are more shy than the Curlew ; it is wary in the extreme, and rarely 

 allows any one to approach it within gunshot. 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 quickness, flapping its long wings 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 considerable angle, the 

 neck outstretched, the bill slightly depressed, 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 

 evolutions above its marshy haunts. Upon the ground the Curlew walks 

 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 marsh 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 summer, when the bird is in its 

 breeding-haunts; it is so excessively wary that it generally takes wing 



* The synonymy of the eastern form is as follows : — 

 Numenius lineatus, Cuv. Reg. An. i. p. 521 (1829). 

 Numenius nasicus, Temm. Man. cCOrn. iv. p. .393 (1840). 

 Numenius ai'quatula, Iludys. Graj/s Zool. Miscell. p. 80 (1844). 

 Numenius cassini, Sivinhoe, Ibis, 18G7, p. 398. 



