CURLEW. GRALLATORES. NUMENIUS. 63 



worms, small crustaceous and molluscous animals, which they 

 principally obtain by perforating the mud and sand with 

 their long bills. At this season they are remarkable for 

 their shy and watchful character, and unless by stratagem 

 can rarely be approached within gun-shot. During the 

 flowing of the tide they retire to the fields adjoining the 

 coast, where they remain quietly until the ebb has com- 

 menced. No sooner has this taken place, than they are seen 

 returning to seek, in the lately covered sands, for a new de- 

 posit of food ; and I have often observed with admiration 

 by what wonderful instinctive feeling they became imme- 

 diately acquainted with the fact ; and have watched, when a 

 certain mark upon the shore has become visible, for their 

 re-appearance, without being once disappointed in the re- 

 sult ; so well do they know " their appointed times and 

 seasons." Towards the end of March, or early in April, 

 they begin to retire from the coasts, and migrate to the in- 

 terior heathy and mountainous districts of England and 

 Scotland; but from the observations I have been able to 

 make, I feel almost assured that this movement is not so 

 confined in extent as is supposed by some ; for instance, I 

 do not think that the Curlews we have upon the coast of 

 Northumberland, as winter or equatorial visitants, satisfy 

 the migrative impulse by a flight of a few miles into the in- 

 terior ; but that these retire to the Highlands, or northern 

 parts of Scotland, and its isles; giving place, upon our 

 moors and open grounds, to those bodies which have win- 

 tered in the southern parts of the kingdom. Unless upon 

 this idea it would be difficult to account for their presence 

 in higher latitudes, and would also be at variance with the 

 ascertained facts relative to the migrations of other birds. 



During the pairing and breeding season, their notes are 

 much varied, consisting of several loud whistling calls, that 

 suit well with the wild open scenery where they are found. 

 At this time they are often on the wing, wheeling in widely 



