THE CURLEW. 305 



call, until hovering at last within range of the deceiver, they are 

 greeted with a charge of shot. 



The note of the curlew is harsh, and resembles a loud whistling, 

 sounding like " kor-r-ev; !" or " whor-r-r-euh !" Jennings says the 

 common notes uttered hy the curlew are " hoe hoe hoe ;" but I 

 have never been able to recognize such a sound in the actual note of 

 the bird. 



The punter will frequently be tempted to try his skill at curlews 

 when wild-fowl are scarce. He must not forget that they have long 

 legs, and stand high on the mud ; and unless his g*un is elevated, as 

 for long shots, he must take a turn or two at the barrel-rest-screw, 

 slightly raising the muzzle, or the shot will probably fly among 

 their legs without touching any vulnerable part, and he will not 

 recover a bird. 



Another mode of sport which often succeeds better than any other 

 with these birds, is by means of the wild-fowl canoe, described at 

 page 229. Two persons proceed in the canoe up creeks at low- 

 water, or grope about among islands and oozes frequented by these 

 birds ; and having found a herd, await their time until the tide rises 

 high enough to lift the canoe so that the prow is upon a level with 

 the land on which the curlews are feeding* ; the fowler then takes 

 deliberate aim with a large fowling-piece, too heavy to hold out to 

 the shoulder, except by resting the barrel upon the prow of the boat 

 or elsewhere ; meanwhile the other occupant steadies the canoe with 

 one of the oars, which is thrust through a sculling hole in the stern- 

 piece. Numbers of curlews may sometimes be killed in this manner. 



The fowler is frequently able to stalk them just after dusk in his 

 boat, if on the muddy flats of a river, or by creeping within range 

 from some screen on land. 



There are various other tricks and means resorted to, for getting 

 within range of the wary curlew, some of which are beneath the 

 dignity of a sportsman ; such as digging holes in open marshes, 

 burying casks on the beach, and lying in ambush in those unenviable 

 positions : thus taking the birds by surprise. Such proceedings may 

 answer once or twice, but curlews soon forsake a place of resort when 

 so assailed. 



The plan recommended by Colonel Hawker, as to making an island 

 on the ooze by means of a few boat loads of rubbish, is far better. 

 Curlews always remain on the highest ground, nor do they leave it 

 until the tide reaches their legs j so that by proceeding in a punt, and 



R R 



