500 



SCOLOPACIDxE. 



from the middle of autumn, through the winter, till the 

 pairing season of the following spring. It frequents the 

 sea-shore and its extensive sandy flats during the ebb tide, 

 seeking for small Crustacea, marine insects, worms, &c., 

 with which to satisfy its hunger, retiring to open fields in 

 the vicinity when the rising tide covers the feeding-ground. 

 Sir William Jardine has described from personal observation 

 the habits of these birds on the Sol way : " They retired 

 regularly inland after their favourite feeding-places were 

 covered. A long and narrow ledge of rocks runs into the 

 Frith, behind which we used to lie concealed, for the purpose 

 of getting shots at various sea-fowl returning at ebb. None 

 were so regular as the Curlew. The more aquatic were near 

 the sea, and could perceive the gradual reflux ; the Curlews 

 were far inland, but as soon as we could perceive the top of 

 a sharp rock standing above water, we were sure to perceive 

 the first flocks leave the land, thus keeping pace regularly 

 with the change of the tides. They fly in a direct line to 

 their feeding-grounds, and often in a wedge-shape ; on alarm, 

 a simultaneous cry is uttered, and the next coming flock 

 turns from its course, uttering in repetition the same alarm 

 note. In a few days they become so wary as not to fly over 

 the concealed station. They are one of the most difficult 

 birds to approach, except during spring, but may be enticed 

 by imitating their whistle." One cry peculiar to the Curlew 

 sounds like corlieu or courlie ; whence its English and 

 French name. 



Towards the end of March, or early in April, the flocks 

 of Curlews begin to retire from the coast and seek the 

 breeding- grounds, where they soon break up into pairs. 

 The late Mr. Selby felt assured that this movement was not 

 so confined in extent as had been supposed ; that the winter 

 visitors of the coast of Northumberland did not satisfy the 

 migrative impulse by a flight of a few miles into the interior ; 

 but that these retired to the Highlands, or northern parts 

 of Scotland and its isles, and many visited high northern 

 latitudes to be hereafter mentioned, thus giving place upon 

 the moors and open grounds of the border counties to those 



