mate with his head erect and body drawn up to its full height, 
he raises his wings for an instant high above his head: then 
allowing them gradually to droop, he vibrates them, at the same 
time rapidly moving his legs like a soldier ‘‘ marking time.” 
The curlew seems to prefer the evening for his best efforts. 
Rising from the ground with rapid wing-beats, he will ‘ check ” 
suddenly when near the summit of his ascent; so suddenly as 
almost to throw himself backwards. Then, recovering, he will 
hang poised, kestrel-like, in mid-air, and pour forth a joyous 
thrilling, or jodelling, song. Rising and falling, on quivering 
wings, or sweeping round in great circles, and hovering again, 
he will remain for some considerable time pouring forth this 
joyful ripple of song. 
The courtship flight of the lapwing is even, if possible, more 
interesting. Rising from the ground with slow heavy flaps of his 
broad wings—which, it is to be noted, present a remarkable differ- 
ence from those of the female,in that the primaries are muchlonger, 
so as to give this portion of the extended wing a conspicuously 
broader appearance—as though he had difficulty in getting under 
way, he speedily dissipates this impression by a sudden upward 
rush, an effortless turn, apparently ; and then follows a downward 
swoop, or fall, with half-closed wings. To this swoop there 
succeeds a surprising change. In an instant the wing-beat is 
increased to an incredible speed, causing the body to turn a half, 
58 
