BIRDS IN GENERAL 415 



backward, and so out of all centre of gravity, that these 

 birds cannot walk at all. They are called by Linnaeus 

 compedes^ because they move on the ground as if shackled 

 or fettered. 



STONE CURLEW 



On the 27th of February 1788, Stone Curlews were 

 heard to pipe ; and on March ist, after it was dark, some 

 were passing over the village, as might be perceived by 

 their quick short note, which they use in their nocturnal 

 excursions by way of watch-word, that they may not stray 

 and lose their companions. 



Thus, we see, that retire whithersoever they may in the 

 winter, they return again early in the spring, and are, as it 

 now appears, the first summer birds that come back. 

 Perhaps the mildness of the season may have quickened 

 the emigration of the curlews this year. 



They spend the day in high elevated fields and sheep- 

 walks ; but seem to descend in the night to streams and 

 meadows, perhaps for water, which their upland haunts do 

 not afford them. 



THE SMALLEST WILLOW WREN 



The smallest uncrested willow wren, or chifF chaf, is 

 the next early summer bird which we have remarked ; it 

 utters two sharp piercing notes, so loud in hollow woods, 

 as to occasion an echo, and is usually first heard about the 

 20th of March. 



FERN OWL, OR GOAT SUCKER 



The country people have a notion that the fern owl, or 

 churn owl, or eve-jarr, which they also call a puckeridge, 

 is very injurious to weanling calves, by inflicting, as it 

 strikes at them, the fatal distemper known to cow-leeches 

 by the name of puckeridge. Thus does this harmless ill- 



