62 THE CUKLEW 



the bolder bird, although one has only to look at the 

 poulterers' shops in great towns to realise how much 

 cause it has to distrust the approach of a human being. 

 In spring and summer the parent birds will wheel and 

 swoop within a few yards of a man's head, endeavouring 

 with piercing cries to divert his attention from their 

 young. But the golden plover is among the shyest of 

 feathered creatures. Even in the nesting season, though 

 it betrays heartrending anxiety for the safety of its 

 brood, it never allows a human intruder to come within 

 gunshot ; flitting from knoll to knoll at a safe distance, 

 it relies on its incessant, melancholy pipe to lure the way- 

 farer on the moors away from the point of danger. As 

 for the curlew, it is as difficult to approach as a wild 

 goose, which is to say a good deal, for a wild goose 

 requires as careful stalking as a red stag, with as nice 

 consideration of wind-direction. The curlew is always 

 restless and nervous ; goodness only knows when it takes 

 a nap, for it is as much nocturnal as diurnal in its habits. 

 Living as I do between moorland and the sea, with 

 many a lochan and plash in the neighbourhood, I am 

 accustomed to hear the whaup's guiding cry, even in the 

 mirkest night, as he wings his way with his ' lang-nebbit ' 

 kin to fresh feeding-grounds. Delightful birds they are, 

 worthy of the kindliest treatment, which, alas ! they don't 

 always get; for there are few young sportsmen so for- 

 bearing as to resist the temptation to let drive at a flock 

 of curlews at flight time. The sporting code has become 

 less discriminating since I was a lad. I was brought up 

 to regard golden plover as fair and most desirable game ; 

 but peewits and curlews were considered sacred by all 

 except Cockney marksmen. Wherefore, though I have 



