Shore-bird Shooting 445 



States, and apparently for no good reason. About 

 the Labrador shores this curlew until recently 

 has been abundant, congregating in large flocks^ 

 sometimes of thousands, gathering on the hills 

 along the coast, and feeding on grasshoppers and 

 various berries, particularly a small black variety 

 which grows on a low shrub and goes by the 

 name of curlew berry. When looking for a place 

 to feed, the flocks keep a short distance from the 

 ground on graceful wing, now high over the grass, 

 now with a swoop disappearing only to reappear 

 and sail on. Presently the birds settle, and if ap- 

 proached, so exactly resemble the grass that they are 

 difficult to see on the ground ; and unless the spot 

 is well marked, they may rise unexpectedly, when 

 a clear, low whistle announces their departure. 

 From the Labrador coast the Eskimo curlew pass 

 out to sea, and we know little of their course. 

 On the islands in the Gulf of St. Lawrence they 

 occur in small numbers ; rarely a storm-driven or 

 belated flock is seen. South, along the coast, 

 their presence is still more irregular, marked gen- 

 erally by a persistence of easterly winds and foggy 

 weather. On the Magdalen Islands, except in a 

 single instance, I have never seen these birds 

 abundant. This occurred in early September, 

 1890; we had sailed to the eastern end of the 

 islands for a few days' duck-shooting. One or 

 two foggy days preceded our arrival, and heavy 



