128 CURLEW 
Derby—though sparingly. In Yorkshire it is more numerous, and 
thence to the extreme north of Scotland, as well as throughout 
Ireland, it is, under the name of WHAUP, familiar to those who 
have occasion to traverse the wild and desolate tracts that best suit 
its habits. So soon as the young are able to shift for themselves, 
both they and their parents resort to the sea-shore or mouths of 
rivers, from the muddy flats of which they at low tide obtain their 
living, and, though almost beyond any other birds wary of 
approach, form an object of pursuit to numerous gunners. While 
leading this littoral life the food of the Curlew seems to consist of 
almost anything edible that presents itself. It industriously probes 
the mud or sand in quest of the worms that lurk therein, and is 
also active in seeking for such crustaceans and mollusks as can be 
picked up on the surface, while vegetable matter as well has been 
found in its stomach. During its summer-sojourn on the moor- 
lands insects and berries, when they are ripe, enter largely into its 
diet. In bulk the Curlew is not less than a Crow, but it looks 
larger still from its long legs, wings, and neck. Its bill, from 5 to 
7 inches in length, and terminating in the delicate nervous 
apparatus common to all birds of its Family, is especially its most 
remarkable feature. Its plumage above is of a drab colour 
streaked and mottled with very dark brown; beneath it is white, 
while the flight-quills are of a brownish black. 
Nearly allied to the Curlew, but smaller and with a more 
northern range, is the WHIMBREL, NV. phxopus, called in some parts 
Jack-Curlew, from its small size—May-fowl, from the month in 
which it usually arrives—and Titterel from one of its cries. This 
so much resembles the former in habit and appearance that no 
further details need be given of it. In the countries bordering on 
the Mediterranean occurs a third species, NV. tenwirostris, the home 
of which has yet to be ascertained. Some 15 other species, or 
more, have been described, but Mr. Seebohm (Geogr. Distrib. Chara- 
driidx, p. 321) admits but 11 in all with 2 “subspecies.” The 
genus Numenius is almost cosmopolitan. In North America three 
very easily recognized species are found—the first, NV. longirostris, 
closely agreeing with the European Curlew, but larger and with a 
longer bill; the second, NV. hudsonicus, representing our Whimbrel ; 
and the third, NV. borealis, which has several times found its way to 
Britain, very much less in size. All these essentially agree with 
the species of the Old World in habit; but it is remarkable that 
the American birds can be easily distinguished by the rufous colour- 
ing of their axillary feathers—a feature which is also presented by 
the American Gopwits (Limosa). A very singular peculiarity is 
afforded by NV. tahitiensis or femoralis, a species which seems to have 
1 The name Spowe (cf. Icelandic Spéz) also seems to have been anciently given 
to this bird (see Stevenson’s Birds of Norfolk, ii. p. 201). 
