10 FAMILIAR WILD BIRDS. 



fields and open country that may be found in the immediate 

 vicinity. When any large area is gradually submerged by 

 the advancing waters, the Curlews move a little more 

 inland, and recommence feeding until again forced by 

 the tide to make a further retreat, and this process is 

 repeated until their feeding place is entirely covered. 



When flying to their customary resorts, these birds 

 generally proceed in a direct line, and often in the shape of 

 a wedge. Should the first flock be alarmed at any noise or 

 unusual occurrence, a loud cry is uttered by the whole party 

 simultaneously, and the cry is taken up by any flocks that 

 may be succeeding, and the direction is immediately 

 changed. 



The young birds are in some parts of the country shot 

 for the table, but the flavour is inferior ; they are by no 

 means easy to approach closely, being cautious and wary 

 in the extreme, but they can be allured by imitating 

 their whistling cry. One of the notes of the bird sounds 

 something like " Corloo/' and the name " Curlew " has no 

 doubt been bestowed on it in consequence. The whistling 

 of the bird is very shrill, and can be heard at a great dis- 

 tance : indeed, this peculiarity has not escaped the notice of 

 our poets. Sir Walter Scott, for instance, in " The Lady 

 of the Lake," writes : " Wild as the scream of the 

 Curlew " ; and other authors have occasionally alluded 

 to it. 



The Curlew commences nesting about the beginning of 

 April ; at this season of the year it leaves the sea-coast foi 

 its various breeding grounds. Curlews breed in some of 

 the large bogs of Ireland, in Sutherland, Northumberland, 

 in Shropshire, on the higher grounds of Cornwall, and also 

 on Dartmoor and Exmoor. They also commonly visit 



