CURLEW. 183 



COR vo RANT, but for this we have neither the names of Linnaeus 

 nor Buffon, as it was not ascertained t^ be a distinct species till 

 a dissection of one took place, subsequent to the works of these 

 great authors. 



CURLEW. Scolopax arquata Le courlis. 



To get at a flock of curlews on the sea-shore, go 

 in a small punt or canoe, when it happens to be high 

 water just after dusk, or before daybreak in a white 

 frost. They will then be assembled by hundreds on 

 the small headlands of the beach, where they are at 

 first so cautious in alighting, that the various plans 

 of burying casks, &c. to wait in do not always answer. 

 In approaching these birds, be careful to keep close 

 alongside and under the shade o/the land. 



In autumn, the curlews from all parts round the 

 neighbouring coast will congregate in one enormous 

 cloud, when they have generally two or three fa- 

 vourite roosting places. To drive them to any one 

 in particular, send a person towards the others with 

 a /(intern ; on seeing which, they will immediately 

 take wing, and may be heard repairing to their next 

 evening haunt, with cries, which echo through the 

 air for miles. 



For curlews always contrive to have a second gun 

 in reserve, because if you happen to wing a curlew, 

 he will generally cry out, and thus entice the flock to 

 pitch down again with him. You will then most 

 probably get much nearer than you might have been 

 able to do previously to your first shot. 



