THE CURLEW. 305 



call, until liovering at last witliin range of the deceiver, tliey are 

 greeted with a charge of shot. 



The note of the curlew is harsh, and resembles a loud whistling, 

 sounding like "kor-r-ew !" or " whor-r-r-euh !" Jennings says the 

 common notes uttered by the cui'lew are '^ hoe hoe hoe ;" but I 

 have never been able to recognize such a sound in tlie actual note of 

 the bird. 



The punter will frequently be tempted to try his skill at curlews 

 when wild-fowl are scarce. He must not forget that they have long 

 legs, and stand high on the mud ; and unless his gun is elevated, as 

 for long shots, he must take a turn or two at the barrel-rest-screw, 

 slightly raising the muzzle, or the shot will probably fly among 

 their legs without touching any vulnerable part, and he will not 

 recover a bird. 



Another mode of sport which often succeeds better than any other 

 with these birds, is by means of the wild-fowl canoe, described at 

 page 229. Two persons proceed in the canoe up creeks at low- 

 water, or g'rope about among islands and oozes frequented by these 

 birds ; and having* found a herd, await their time until the tide rises 

 high enough to lift the canoe so that the prow is upon a level with 

 the land on which the curlews are feeding ; the fowler then takes 

 deliberate aim with a large fowling-piece, too heavy to hold out to 

 the shoulder, except by resting the barrel upon the prow of the boat 

 or elsewhere ; meanwhile the other occupant steadies the canoe with 

 one of the oars, which is thrust through a sculling hole in the stern- 

 piece. Numbers of curlews may sometimes be killed in this manner. 



The fowler is frequently able to stalk them just after dusk in his 

 boat, if on the mudd}^ flats of a river, or by creeping- within range 

 from some screen on land. 



There are various other tricks and means resorted to, for getting- 

 within range of the wary curlew, some of which are beneath the 

 dignity of a sportsman ; such as digging holes in open marshes, 

 burying casks on the beach, and lying in ambush in those unenviable 

 positions : thus taking the birds by surprise. Such proceedings may 

 answer once or twice, but curlews soon forsake a place of resort when 

 so assailed. 



The plan recommended by Colonel Ha,wkei',as to making an island 

 on the ooze by means of a few boat loads of rubbish, is far better. 

 Curlews always remain on the highest ground, nor do they leave it 

 until the tide readies their legs; so that by proceeding in a [.unt, niid 



K u 



