FACTS ABOUT CURLEWS. 



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plumage of the head, neck, and fore part of the back, is light reddish- 

 gray, streaked with dark-brown ; the hind part of the back is white, 

 with dark narrow longitudinal markings ; the tail, breast, and abdo- 

 men are white, the former crossed with black bars, and the latter 

 with dark marks and spots of a similar shape to those on the back. 



1. Great Bittern. 



2. White Heron or Egret. 



The female lays four excessively large pyriform eggs, about three 

 inches long. The cry of the curlew is loud, wild, and plaintive. These 

 birds assemble in numerous flocks, and live on the sea-coast and the 

 marsh-border, feeding on worms and molluscs. At breeding- time they 

 separate into pairs, and haunt the wild hills and dreary moorlands, 



Itemote from human sight, 



hi lonely pairs their venial flight 



5 a 



