COMMON CURLEW. 195 



that month. Between the 25th and 30th of July, I 

 have also watched small parties flying low over the sea 

 at Cromer, keeping steadily on in a south-westerly 

 direction, but rarely exceeding six in number, as if 

 young and old together. Later still in the autumn, 

 their migratory movements are evidenced by their 

 cries, as, (attendant on, or mingling with, large flocks 

 of golden and green plover,* redshanks, &c.), they 

 pass over our towns and cities by night, attracted and 

 bewildered by the glare of the lamps ; chance stragglers, 

 also, when thus calling to their mates, will frequently 

 answer to a whistle in imitation of their notes. In like 

 manner attracted by our light-houses and light-ships on 

 the coast, they are heard, at times, flying round and 

 round for hours, but as far as I can ascertain are never 

 known to "strike the glasses," as is the case with 

 many other species. f In winter during hard weather 

 their numbers are greatly increased from the north, 

 most of which continue their course southward should 

 the frost continue, but even in the sharpest weather 

 I have seen them on Breydon in considerable num- 

 bers, and the gunners are not slow to take advantage 

 of their miserable plight when tamed by cold and 

 hunger. As a rule, however, the curlew is a most difficult 

 species to approach, especially when feeding in large 

 bodies, and their loud warning cries alarm many other 

 birds that might otherwise afford a shot. Even in a 

 punt, as Mr. Dowell remarks, it is not easy to get 

 within range of them, ( e as they usually sit some short 

 way from the water, and their height enables them to 



* See antea, pp. 71-76. 



f This fact was particularly mentioned to me by a very intel- 

 ligent watchman, at Lowestoft High-light, who had been formerly 

 at Orford-ness, and who, from a personal interest in the subject, 

 afforded me much information. 

 2c 2 



