4 
PLOVERS; AND SANDPIPERS: 95 
seeks in winter. It is a resident in the British 
Islands, but its numbers are very considerably 
increased in autumn, by migrants from more 
northern latitudes.. It may be found, as previously 
inferred, on almost all parts of the shore, but 
such beaches where wide expanses of sand, 
mud, and broken rocks occur, are specially 
preferred—as are also salt-marshes and _ wet 
meadows close to the sea. Of all wild fowl 
the Curlew is one of the wariest, never allowing 
a close approach unless stalked with the greatest 
care, or surprised in some unusual way, which 
does not often happen. In some districts where 
little beach is exposed during high-water, the 
Curlews will retire some distance inland, but 
return with remarkable punctuality as soon as 
the tide begins to ebb. Shingle banks and 
islands are also often visited between tides. 
Curlews when feeding are very restless birds, 
running and walking about the beach, seemingly 
in a very careless and unsuspecting manner, 
but sentinels are ever on the watch to sound the 
warning note, which sends the big long-billed 
speckled birds hurrying away to safer haunts. 
The Curlew feeds both by day and by night; 
and its wild somewhat mournful note, shrill 
and far-sounding, curlee, cur-lee, may repeatedly 
be heard during darkness. The flight of this 
bird is both rapid and well sustained. Géitke, 
on evidence which seems absolutely conclusive, 
