COMMON CURLEW. 287 



bird, which was shot in a corn-yard, at Balta Sound, Shetland, in 

 October, 1862, and whose demise is recorded byDr Saxby, in the 

 "Naturalist," for October, 1865. Mr J. H. Dunn informs me 

 that a specimen was shot near Kirkwall, in October, 1857. 



GRA LLA TORES. SCO LOP A CID^E. 



THE COMMON CURLEW. 



NUMENIUS A RQ V A TA . 

 Guilbneach. 



THE Curlew is an abundant bird everywhere in suitable localities, 

 extending to all the outer islands ; it does not, however, breed, so far 

 as I know, on the moors of that group. In the nesting season, indeed, 

 it is perhaps more numerous in the hilly districts of the southern and 

 western counties below Perthshire and Argyleshire, than elsewhere 

 in Scotland. I have, at various times, wandered over many miles 

 of their moorland solitudes, where the only other bird within 

 hearing was the familiar meadow pipit, whose feeble note served 

 but to deepen the impression produced by the wild cry of the 

 Curlew. This call is most bewildering when the watchful male 

 birds are disturbed on the hill-side at the time the females are on 

 their nests. One after another rises from the brown heath, till the 

 seemingly lifeless moor rings with their pertinacious outcries. 

 Soon the alarm spreads, and, away in the distance, these wary 

 creatures, scarcely seen against the grey side of the mountain, rise 

 into the air above their mates, hovering uneasily until the cause 

 of the disturbance disappears. Then as the traveller gets to a 

 distance, just out of their sight, they settle beside them again with 

 a strange musical utterance of satisfaction a long gurgling and 

 quavering note, exceedingly wild, yet not unpleasing, when we 

 think of the faithful bird assuring his mate that all danger is past. 

 When the young are hatched, the note of the curlew is even more 

 vociferous, as both birds then join in these wailing remonstrances. 

 I have often caught the chicks when about two or three days' old ; 

 they squat so close to the ground that it is nearly impossible to 

 find them among rough heath ; but, on a bare spot, a practised eye 

 may discover the little puff-balls cowering to avoid capture. When 

 taken up, however, and set down again, they become quite 



