64 Bird- Life in Labrador. 



than small flocks ; they are usually also much more easily ap- 

 proached. A small flock is generally a wild one, and I have 

 spent hours aud hours in following up small fl cks, of from 

 ten to thirty birds, over hills and broad stretches of table 

 land without once getting a single shot at them, tj come sud- 

 denly upon a large flock out o which, wit 1 out much trouble, 

 I would secure a good mess at a single discharge of my gun. 

 The flight of the curlew is beautiful and graceful, though 

 very hard to discribe. It is very swift, and when just about 

 to alight it seems to poise its wings and drop to the ground 

 with a gliding motion most beautiful to the sight. Its note 

 is a clear and mellow whistle which, like that of most shore 

 birds, is easily imitated; the birds respond readily u o the imi- 

 tation. The curlew is everywhere looked upon as the charac- 

 teristic bird of Labrador, and persons visiting the coast are 

 not considered successful hunters, no matter how large their 

 bag in other direction, unless they have secured at least one 

 mess of curlews. The curlew's leave as suddenly as they ap- 

 pear. Usually by the first of September or a few days later 

 they have all gone southward, when the Jack curlews take 

 their place, though in much smaller numbers. When feeding 

 the flight of the curlews is low ; when migrating, high. 

 When flying low the flight is short. The flesh is dark ; they 

 are much less abundant now than formerly, and are getting 

 wary of their usual feeding grounds from the number of hun- 

 ters that pursue them. 



BITTERN STAKE DRIVER 



Botaurus mugitans. (BARTR.) COUES. 



THIS bird is not considered as rare by the local sportsmen 

 and trophies of its occurrence here are often seen. I do not 

 believe it to be really common, yet it may occur occasionally. 

 The frequent reports I heard of " a bird with very long 

 neck and tall legs," was probably a reference to this species. 

 The green and the night heron may possibly occur in Labra- 

 dor though I should hardly look for them so far north and east. 



