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COMMON CURLEW. 



Numenius arquata, LATHAM. 



PLATE XXII. 



Numenius, Willough Scolopax arquata, Linn Numenios 

 arquata, Lath., Selby, Yarrell, $c Common Curlew </ 

 British authors. 



THE Common Curlew, during summer, or in the 

 season of incubation, is a frequent inhabitant of 

 all the subalpine pastures and pastoral districts 

 of Britain, often descending to the borders of 

 cultivation, and even depositing its eggs among 

 the young grain. In the north of Scotland, they 

 extend over all the wild country in many parts 

 stretching mile after mile in extent, and affording 

 fitting nurseries for them and a few allied birds. 

 They reach also to the Orkney and Shetland 

 Islands, breeding in both localities. About the 

 time of their arrival, their clear shrill whistle may 

 be heard, passing high over head to their summer 

 haunts, which are soon betrayed when approached, 

 by the birds, even at an early season, meeting the 

 intruder. When the breeding stations have been 

 taten up, the solitary moors will be seen, at early 



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