2T.S 



VERTEBRATA. 



THE CURLEW. 



of the Italians, and Keilhacke of the Germans, N. arquahis ; the female is twenty-four inches .ong, 

 the male twenty-two; variegated above with brown, black, and white ; beneath with pale and 

 dark brown and white, streaked and spotted. Its nest is carelessly made of a few leaves ; the 

 eggs are four, and pear-shaped ; the young run as soon as hatched. It lives along the sea-shore, 

 and feeds on worms, slugs, small testaceans, and insects ; its cry of courlie, courlie, has given it 

 its English and French names. In Scotland it is called Whaiip, which is a name for a goblin 

 which is supposed to have a long beak and go about the houses after niglitfall ; hence we can 

 understand the Highlander's prayer to be saved from witches and warlocks and "a' long-nebbed 

 things." This species is widely distributed throughout Europe, Africa, Asia, and even the Asi- 

 atic and Australian Islands, visiting hio^h northern reo;ions in summer to breed, and movino; south- 

 ward as compelled by the freezing of the waters and marshes, where they obtain their food. 

 Many proceed to the tropics, and others linger in more northern regions. Their flesh is excel- 

 lent, and they are eagerly sought by the sportsmen, but are very difficult of approach. 



The Whimbrel, N. jihccojms, is eighteen inches long, variegated above with brown, grayish- 

 black, and grayish-white ; beneath nearly white. In England, it is sometimes called Half Cur- 

 lew and Jack Curlew ; geographical distribution nearly as the preceding. 



The HcDSONiAN Curlew, K. Hudsonkus, sometimes called Jack Curleto, and also Short- 

 billed Curlew, is eighteen inches long; above brownish-black; beneath white, tinged with buff; 

 its nest is built on the ground ; the eggs four. It is migratory ; appears in the Middle States in 

 large flocks in the month of May ; frequents the salt marshes, and feeds on small worms, land 

 and marine insects, fry, minute shell-fish, and seeds of aquatic vegetables. At a later period, in 

 June, accompanied by the long-billed species, it feeds on dewberries, crow-berries, <fec. About 

 this period it assembles from diff"erent parts of the marshes in a vast company, and moves away 

 to the northern regions, usually setting out about an hour before sunset, and proceeding in a long 

 angular phalanx, and cheering the way by a constant whistling. In consequence of their sympa- 

 thy for each other, they readily descend at the call of their kindred, and this fact is taken advan- 

 tage of by sportsmen to bring them within gunshot, by imitating their cry. During the latter 

 part of August and first of September they arrive along the coast of New England and the Mid- 

 dle States, now frequenting the upland pastures as well as marshes, feeding on grasshoppers and 





