4 o6 NORTHERN EUROPE 



from April to the end of May, and in autumn from the middle of August to the 

 middle of September. The nest, which is ready in central Europe during the 

 latter half of May, but in the Arctic tundra not till towards the end of June, is 

 situated on firm ground in the swamp, where it is made by treading down the 

 grass, and lining the depression with dry grass or moss. The eggs are four in 

 number, and pyriform in shape. The young, which are hatched out in seventeen 

 days, are larger than those of the common snipe, with very short beaks. As in the 

 old birds, their colour harmonises so well with their surroundings that it is most 

 difficult to detect them when lying close. Indeed, a great snipe seldom rises until 

 almost trodden upon by grazing cattle or man, when it gets up with a whirr and 

 flies quickly and rather heavily, but never in a zigzag line like other snipe. 



The great snipe feeds mainly on insects and their larvae, especially those of 

 the daddy-longlegs, but it also consumes slugs and worms. In many parts of the 

 Continent this species is rare as a breeding-bird, but it appears as such in 

 Westphalia, Hanover, Oldenburg, Brandenburg, Pomerania, and elsewhere. On 

 its migration to South Africa it crosses Germany ; but its principal nesting area 

 is in north-eastern Europe and north-western Asia, up to 70° N. latitude. It is 

 about 11 inches long, and distinguished by the white tips to the wing crests, and 

 the sixteen tail feathers, of which the outer four are white or nearly so. 

 Curlews sand- Among other northern birds curlews are distinguishable by the 



pipers, and long, sickle-shaped beak. In this respect they resemble the ibis ; 

 Plovers. b u {. j.j ie s i 10r t hind-toe, placed higher up than the others, the colouring 

 of the plumage, their movements in walking and flying, and their loud sonorous 

 call indicate at once their affinity to the plovers. The common curlew (Numenius 

 arcuatus) is found near water and marsh on heath and steppe. Although 

 resident in the British Isles and in a few places in Germany, especially on the 

 shores of the North Sea, its chief breeding-grounds are in Lapland and the tundras 

 of northern Siberia. From the north of Europe and Asia it journeys south into 

 northern Africa and Arabia, where it is found in company with the ibis. Migrating 

 from August to September, from March to May it returns to its breeding area. 

 The nest is a slight hollow on the ground, or a depression in the grass or heather, 

 and contains four pear-shaped eggs lying with the points towards the centre, as 

 is always the case with eggs of that shape. This curlew feeds on worms, insects 

 and their larvae, and bilberries and other berries. A wary bird, flying with the 

 head down on its neck, and extended feet, it always hovers before settling. It 

 also swims well, and has a stately walk. Its name is derived from the loud call 

 of " cur-lew," or " kerr-lei " ; but it also utters a sort of rippling alarm-note. In 

 defence of its nest, the curlew will stand up to and drive off dogs, but when 

 attacked by a falcon it immediately takes to flight, and seldom escapes unless b} - 

 diving. In length the curlew measures about 24 inches ; in colour it is light brown 

 above with dark brown spots and streaks, and below is streaked down the middle ; 

 the crown is pale brown, the axillaries are white with brown bars, and the lower 

 half of the back is white with black streaks. 



The redshank (Totanus calidris) is widely distributed in districts where 

 muddy ground is covered with short grasses and marsh-plants, and particular]}- in 

 bays and tidal harbours, where it often nests close to the sea. The nest would be 



