WU1MBREL. Numtnius 



CURLEW. Numenius arqiuita. 



about during the autumnal nights, be they dark or moonlight, but they prefer the latter. 

 They may always be distinguished from other species by the cry, resembling in sound 

 the word titterel, the provincial name applied to them in Sussex. They fly from 

 the sea inland as well as in the opposite direction, and take both courses during every 

 state of the tide ; hence we may consider that they are night-feeding birds." 



The general colouring of the Whimbrel is much like that of the curlew, but it may be 

 easily known from that bird by the browner tinge of the light- coloured feathers, the pale 

 brown streak at the top of the head, the dark line from the base of the bill to the eye, 

 and the light streak over the eye and ear-coverts. The quill-feathers of the wing are 

 greyish black and the secondaries are barred with white. The length of the Whimbrel is 

 various according to the individual, but the usual average is about eighteen inches. 



THE two species of Godwits are known in England, the Common, or Bar-tailed, and 

 the Black-tailed Godwit. These birds may be known from each other by the peculiarity 

 from which they derive their name, the one species being distinguished by the uniform 

 black hue of the latter two-thirds of the tail, and the other by the brown and grey bars 

 which cross the tail-feathers. 



The Godwit is a noisy bird, continually uttering its odd cry, which has been well 

 compared to the word grutto rapidly repeated. The flesh of this bird is held in high 

 estimation ; and in some parts of England where these Godwits are found, it is the custom 

 to catch them alive and to keep them for some time before killing them, fattening them 

 well with bread and milk. The Godwit generally haunts marsh lands, where it finds its 

 food by probing the soft oozy soil with its bill. The fens of Lincolnshire are favourite 



