622 SCOLOPACnm 



Indians believe that this bird, and some others, betray the 

 approach of strangers to the Esquimaux ; and it is very 

 probable that that persecuted people, always in dread of 

 the treacherous attacks of their enemies, and accustomed 

 to observe the few animals that visit their country with 

 great attention, will be on the alert when they perceive a 

 bird flying anxiously backwards and forwards over a par- 

 ticular spot. On the 13th of June, Sir John Richardson 

 observes, I discovered one of these Curlews hatching on 

 three eggs on the shore of Point Lake. When I ap- 

 proached the nest, she ran a short distance, crouching 

 close to the ground, and then stopped to observe the fate 

 of the object of her cares. 



Mr. Audubon says, " This species passes in spring from 

 Texas along the coast eastward to the fur- countries, re- 

 turning in autumn. On the 29th of July, 1833, during a 

 thick fog, the Esquimaux Curlews made their first appear- 

 ance in Labrador, near the harbour of Bras d'Or. They 

 evidently came from the north, and arrived in dense flocks. 

 The weather was extremely cold, as well as foggy. For 

 more than a week we had been looking for them, as was 

 every fisherman in the harbour, these birds being consi- 

 dered there, as indeed they are, great delicacies. The 

 birds at length came, flock after flock passed close round 

 our vessel, and directed their course toward the sterile 

 mountainous tracts in the neighbourhood ; and as soon as 

 the sun's rays had dispersed the fogs that hung over the 

 land, our whole party went off in search of them. 



" While on wing, they emitted an oft-repeated soft whist- 

 ling note ; but the moment they alighted, they became 

 silent. They ran swiftly along, all in the same direction, 

 picking up what the fishermen called the Curlew-berry in 

 their way ; and when pursued, would immediately squat 

 in the manner of a Snipe or Partridge, sometimes even 



