62 GRALLATORES. NUMENIUS. CURLEW. 



long cylindrical bills. Early in spring they commence their 

 polar migration, and retire inland, selecting moors, extensive 

 waste grounds, and mountainous heaths, abounding in marshes 

 and pools of water, as appropriate habitats during the breed- 

 ing season, when they separate into pairs. Their food con- 

 sists of worms, reptiles, insects, and mollusca. The plumage 

 of the young is similar to that of the old birds ; and the 

 former are only to be distinguished by the bill being shorter 

 and softer. Their flight is strong, and generally at a consi- 

 derable height in the air, and in disposition they are very 

 timid and wary. 



COMMON CURLEW. 



i 



NUMENIUS ARauATA, Lath. 

 PLATE XIII. 



Numenius arquata, Lath. Ind. Omith. 2. 710. 1. Flem. Br. Anim. 1. 101. 



136. 



Numenius major, Steph. Shaw's Zoo\. 12. 26. pi. 4. 

 Scolopax arquata, Linn. Syst. 1. 242. 3 Gmel. Syst. 1. 655. 

 Numenius, Rail Syn. 103. A. 1 Will. 216. pi. 54 Briss. Ornith. 5. 



311. 1. 



Le Courlis, Buff. Ois. 8. 19. 

 Le Courlis d'Europe, Cuv. Reg. Anim. 1. 485. 

 Grand Courlis cendre 7 , Temm. Man. d'Ornith. 2. 603. 

 Grosse Brachvogel, Bechst. Naturg. Deut. 4. 121. 

 Common Curlew, Br. Zool. 2. 176. 63 Arct. Zool. 2. 462. A Will 



(Angl.) 294 pi. 54,. Lath. Syn. 5. 119 Id. Sup. 242. Pult. Cat. Dor- 



set. 14 Lewin's Br. Birds, 4. pi. 153. Mont. Ornith. Diet, and Sup. 



Bewick's Br. Birds, 2. 54 Shaw's Zool. 12. 26. pi. <LFlem. Br. 



Anim. 1. 101. 136. 



PROVINCIAL Whaap, Stock Whaap, Whitterick. 



THIS is a well-known and numerous species, and, though 

 found in these islands in certain situations throughout the 

 whole year, is nevertheless subject to regular periodical mi- 

 grations. During winter these birds are inhabitants of the 

 sands and muddy shores of the sea, and the mouths of rivers, 

 Food, then associating in flocks, and feeding upon marine insects, 



5 



