THE CUKLEW. 251 



of plumage, some not weighing more than twenty-two 

 ounces, and others thirty-seven ounces. In some the 

 white parts of the plumage are clearer than in others, 

 which are uniformly grey and tinged with pale brown. 

 They utter a very shrill cry, that may be heard at a 

 considerable distance. The common length of the 

 curlew is two feet, and from tip to tip from thirty-six 

 inches to forty. The bill is about seven inches long, of 

 a regular curve, and tender substance at the point ; the 

 tongue sharp and very short ; the upper mandible is 

 black, gradually softening into brown towards the base, 

 which in the under mandible is flesh coloured. The 

 feathers of the head, neck, upper part of the back, 

 and wing coverts are of a pale brown, the middle of each 

 feather black, edged and deeply indented with pale rust 

 colour or light grey; the breast, belly, and lower part of 

 the neck dull white, marked with conjunct lines of black, 

 the two former with oblong strokes ; quills black, spotted 

 on the inside with white ; tail reddish-white barred with 

 black ; the legs are bare a little above the knees, of a 

 dusky bluish colour ; the toes are black, and flat on the 

 under side. 



The curlew is swift in its flight, and we may come to 

 the conclusion that in former times it was esteemed an 

 excellent bird for the table, and it may still retain that 

 character, although I think we rarely find it in 

 the poulterers' shops. When the curlew is shot at 

 the period of the year when found inland and on the 

 moors, and is in good condition from feeding on worms, 

 &c., then the old adage applies to it, 



"It carries twelrepence on its back;" 

 but at the other period of the year, when its haunts are 



