64 Bird- Life in Labrador. 



than small flocks ; they are usually also much more easily ap- 

 proached. A small flock is generally a wild one, and I have 

 spent hours and hours in following up small fl cks, of from 

 ten to thirty birds, over hills and l)road stretches of table 

 land without once ge'ting a single shot "t them, t^ come sud- 

 denly upon a large flock out o wLich, wit' out much trouble, 

 I would secure a good mess at a single discharge of my gnu. 

 The flight cfthe curlew is beautiful and graceful, though 

 very hard to discribe. It is very swift, and when just about 

 to alight it seems to j)oise its wings and drop to the ground 

 with a gliding motion most beautiful to the sight. Its note 

 is a clear and mellow whittle which, like that of most sliore 

 birds, is easily imitated; the birds respond readily o the imi- 

 tation. The curlew is everywhere looketl uj)ou as tl.e charac- 

 teristic bird of Labrador, and persons visiting the coast are 

 not considered successful hunters, no matter how large their 

 bag in other dii-ection, unless they have secured at least one 

 mess of curlews. The curlews leave as suddenly as they aj)- 

 pear. Usually by the first of Se|)tend)er or a few days later 

 they have all gone scmthward, when the Jack curlews take 

 their place, though in much smaller numbers. When feeding 

 the flight of the curlews is low ; when migrating, high. 

 When flying low t e flight is short. The flesh is dark ; they 

 are much less abundant now than formerly, and are getting 

 wiirv of their usual feeding grounds from the number of hun- 

 ters that pursue them. 



BITTERN STAKE DRIVER 



Botaiiru.'i lUKC/itaii.s. — (JiAirn;.) Corns. 



This bird is not considered as rare by the local sportsmen 

 and trophies of its occurrence here are often seen. 1 do not 

 believe it to be really common, yet it may occur occasionally. 

 The frequent reports I heard of " a l)ird with very long- 

 neck and tall legs," was probably a reference to this species. 

 The green and the night heron mav possibly occur in Labra- 

 dor though I shiould hnrdlv look foi them so iarnoi'th and east. 



