THE CURLEW. 233 



strike me as much stronger on the wing. I have 

 killed them frequently near Cape May, and on 

 several occasions on the prairies. As they are well 

 worthy of the sportsman's notice, I will describe 

 them. The head is dark-brown, with a longitudinal 

 mark over each eye, and one up the forehead, of 

 buff. The iris is of a dirty-brown colour. The 

 breast is very pale cinnamon-brown ; the back of the 

 neck, dark and light-brown in alternate lines ; back, 

 cinnamon-coloured, with dark-brown bars, and edged 

 with spots of white towards the tail-coverts ; the 

 belly and vent, white; the latter in portions showing 

 a tendency to brown ; tarsi, greenish lead colour. 

 From end of bill to termination of tail, this bird is 

 twenty-one inches long, and thirty-two across the 

 wings. 



In pursuing the curlew, great skill and patience 

 are generally necessary in order to bring the sports- 

 man within gunshot. They also require very hard 

 hitting, being capable of carrying off as much shot 

 as a wood-pigeon. If one is disabled and left 

 struggling on the ground, it will attract to the spot 

 all its companions within sight. Is it not too bad 

 to take advantage of these creatures and deprive 

 them of life when they are exhibiting so noble a trait 

 in their character ; while they are illustrating the 

 parable of the good Samaritan, for, doubtless, they 

 collect on such occasions to condole or help their 

 wounded fellows ? 



In Labrador I have frequently found the nest of 



