CURLEWS. 233 



haunts. They are shy and restless birds, and 

 other fowl avoid associating with them for this 

 reason. It is only under rarely favourable condi- 

 tions that a heavy shot can be made at Curlews, 

 most frequently at break of day or near dusk. The 

 time chosen to approach them should be about high 

 water, for, when driven from their feeding grounds 

 by the rising tide, they will form up in dense packs 

 on some flat-topped island or point ; there they will 

 rest and, by vociferous calling, collect their scattered 

 forces ere flying inland, or to isolated rocks, where, 

 motionless, they await the ebbing tide. At such 

 times they are apparently perfectly silent, and 

 choose a point of vantage from which they can see 

 all round, and are secure from hidden attack. But 

 when within shot of a large number of Curlews it 

 will be remarked that they often keep up a subdued 

 piping, scarcely audible unless the shooter is very 

 near them. The grey of dawn, if the tide be high, 

 is a good hour to look for a shot ; but it is then 

 hard to see these birds till they flit away like 

 shadows, crying noisily when out of shot. Though 

 previously they may have been in hundreds on the 

 ground, their colour blends so confusedly with the 

 land in the dusky light, that it is no easy matter to 

 discern them in time to fire ere they rise and leave. 

 Following Curlews by day is usually a waste of time ; 

 they cleverly judge a long shot, and a few yards to 

 spare. Solitary birds will often fly within easy 

 range, and seem to lose their cunning when in 

 search of companionship. They vary greatly in 

 size, and I have shot adults (even females, which are 

 usually the largest) no heavier than young birds. 



