THE CURLEW 
NUMENIUS ARQUATA 
LocaL names in surrounding counties: ‘‘ Whitterick,”’ 
iOld Harsys7s (Essex). 
Stratus IN British Avirauna: A widely distributed 
resident, changing its ground according to season: in 
summer frequenting the moors from Cornwall northwards 
to the Shetlands and those of Ireland; in winter resort- 
ing to the coasts, marshes, and lowlands. Its numbers 
are increased by migrants in autumn. 
Rapiat DistRiBuTION WITHIN FIFTEEN MILES OF ST. 
Paut’s: It seems a little surprising that so large and so 
wary a bird as the Curlew should visit the Metropolitan 
area on migration. Undoubtedly the number of indi- 
viduals that pay London a passing call is infinitesimal 
compared with the number that flies over the great city 
at so great an altitude as to escape notice. Cries from 
these migrating flocks are, however, often to be detected 
at night, especially in the quieter suburbs. ‘The Curlew 
often visits Wimbledon on passage, and has been recorded 
from the banks of the ‘Thames in various spots not very 
remote from the centrl area. I can also record it from 
Wembley and Kingsbury, from the Welsh Harp, Elstree, 
and the neighbourhood of Pinner. In Essex, of course, 
the Curlew is a familiar bird in winter on the saltings, and 
it has been observed in the Wanstead and Epping dis- 
tricts. ‘The same remarks apply to Kent, and there are 
records of the species from many localities within our 
limits. 
There are few more shy and wary birds than the Curlew, 
and seldom indeed is one allowed to approach it within 
gunshot. It is one of those species that spends the greater 
part of the year on or near the coast, retiring in spring to 
moors and uplands to breed, returning with its young to 
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