COMMON CURLEW. 611 



partly naked ; three toes in front, one behind ; the toes in front united 

 by a membrane as far as the first articulation ; the hind toe articulated 

 upon the tarsus, and touching the ground. Wings moderate, the first 

 quill-feather the longest in the wing. 



THE CURLEW is so common a bird as to be well known 

 on almost every part of our coast, where it obtains a living 

 from the middle of autumn, through the winter, till the 

 pairing season of the following spring. It frequents the 

 sea-shore and its extensive sandy flats during the ebb tide, 

 seeking for small Crustacea, marine insects, worms, &c., 

 with which to satisfy its hunger, retiring to open fields in 

 the vicinity when the rising tide covers the feeding ground. 

 Sir William Jardine has described from personal observa- 

 tion the habits of these birds on the Sol way. " They re- 

 tired regularly inland after their favourite feeding-places 

 were covered. A long and narrow ledge of rocks runs 

 into the Frith, behind which we used to lie concealed, for 

 the purpose of getting shots at various sea-fowl returning 

 at ebb. None were so regular as the Curlew. The more 

 aquatic were near the sea, and could perceive the gradual 

 reflux ; the Curlews w r ere far inland, but as soon as we 

 could perceive the top of a sharp rock standing above 

 water, we were sure to perceive the first flocks leave the 

 land, thus keeping pace regularly with the change of the 

 tides. They fly in a direct line to their feeding grounds, 

 and often in a wedge shape ; on alarm, a simultaneous cry 

 is uttered, and the next coming flock turns from its 

 course, uttering in repetition the same alarm note. In 

 a few days they become so wary, as not to fly over the 

 concealed station. They are one of the most difficult 

 birds to approach, except during spring, but may be 

 enticed by imitating their whistle." One cry peculiar 

 to the Curlew sounds like corlieu or courlie ; whence its 

 English and French name. 



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