BIRDS OF THE HUMBER DISTRICT. 109 



season. Many, however, remain to winter. They 

 are far less plentiful on the return journey, which 

 takes place towards the end of February, or early in 

 March ; I have now for years observed that there are 

 always about this time very considerable additions to 

 our local birds. They are then very wild and shy, 

 and it is impossible to get near them without resort- 

 ing to stratagem ; they also keep much to the coast, 

 only going inland to feed in those wet springs when the 

 land is thoroughly soaked. As a rule the Curlew leaves 

 before the arrival of the Whimbrel, which takes place 

 early in May ; some few pairs will linger about the 

 foreshore until the end of May, or even into June*. 

 The flesh of the Curlew, more particularly of the old 

 birds, is bitter and unpalatable ; and it is in less re- 

 quest as an article of food than any of our shore 

 birds f. The price asked by our gunners is a shilling. 



167. NUMENIUS PH.EOPUS (Linnaeus) . Whim- 

 brel. 

 Provincial. Curlew-Jack, Half-Curlew, Curlew-knot. 



A common spring and autumn visitant, in the for- 

 * Many young birds of the previous year remain on the coast 

 throughout the summer, and do not go northward to breed. 



t It is curious, showing the estimation this bird was held|in 

 by our forefathers, that the price of the 'Kyrlew,' as set forth 

 in the 'Northumberland Household Book ' (begun in 1512), was 

 twelve pence, an extraordinary sum for that day Pheasants, 

 Bitterns, and Herons being valued at the same price, while such 

 modern delicacies as the Woodcock and Teal were fixed at Irf. 

 to l^d., and Mallards and Partridges 2d. each. 



