TEN-BIRD SHOOTIN{J. 121 



they pick out of the soft mossy ground by the pools or water m 

 such parts of the country as they frequent. In winter they de- 

 part to the sea-side, where they are seen in great numbers, then 

 live on worms, marine insects, and other fishy materials, whicli 

 they pick up on the beach, and among the loose rocks and pools 

 left by the retning tide. The flesh of the curlew has been charac- 

 terized by some_ as very good, and of a fine flavour ; whde others 

 have unceremoniously condemned it. The truth is, when they Kve 

 in the moors, and feed on insects, and other things in the boggy 

 ground, they are excellent eating ; but after they have been a short 

 time by the sea-coast, and obliged to live on salt-water diet, their 

 flesh becomes strong and unsavoury. The bird was held in high 

 repute in former times, as the old proverb tells us : — • 



A curlew, be she white, or be she black, 

 She carries twelvepence on her back. 



As we have said, the bird is a shy and suspicious one, and is 

 very difficult to approach with the gmi and dog. In fact, we have 

 often failed in getting near it, when the number of birds was great. 

 The only chance is to steal a march upon it, by getting round some 

 hill, or elevated piece of ground, and then trymg our luck at a 

 random shot. These birds require rather heavy shot; No. 3 and 

 ■ i\o. 2 are commonly found requisite. 



These birds are very numerous in some districts of Ireland, and 

 in the boggy moor grounds in all the counties of Yorkshire, 

 Durham, Cumberland, Westmoreland, and Northimiberland, they 

 are found in considerable numbers. These birds are always 

 more or less difficult to approach "within gun-shot. They are 

 cunning and artful, and attempt to lead the sportsman astray, 

 much in the same manner as the plover does. The only way of 

 getting near them is to take the advantage of some cover; a hill, 

 a vfall, a bush, or something of the kind ; but even with all or any 

 of these screens or aids, it is often surprising to witness with what 

 kecmiess of sight they will espy an enemy, and how rapidly they will 

 wheel round and get out of the reach of his weapon. What we 

 now state refers to the sojourn of the birds in the moors and 

 S";:>ongy grounds during the summer months for the purposes of 

 incubation. They are often more approachable when they frequent 

 tii8 sea-shore in winter; and they evidently seem to throw off here 

 a goodly portion of their constitutional timidity and suspicion, for 

 wc have often got witliui reach of them, even in a direct fine, so as 

 to bring them^do^vn with a good fowling-piece. "When they are 

 pursued in the moors, dogs are useless ; nay, worse — they disturb 

 the birds long before the sight of the sportsman himself makes any 

 impression upon them. In curlew shooting by the sea-side, dogs 

 are entirely unnecessary. 



These birds are very numerous in Ireland, and in some districts 

 are shot in great numbers through the summer months. They 

 likewise abound in the swampy moors of Scotland. 



