BRITISH BIRDS. 69 



with oblong strokes more thickly set, of the same 

 colour. The quill feathers are black, the inner 

 webs crossed or spotted with white: tail barred 

 with black, on a white ground, tinged with red: 

 thighs bare about half way above the knees, of a 

 bluish colour: the toes are thick, and flat on the 

 under side, being furnished with membraneous 

 edgings on each side to the claws. 



These birds differ much in size, as well as in the 

 different shades of their plumage, some of them 

 weighing not more than twenty-two ounces, and 

 others as much as thirty-seven. In the plumage of 

 some, the white parts are, most probably from age 

 or sex, more distinct and clear than in others, 

 which are more uniformly grey, and tinged with 

 pale brown. 



The female is so nearly like the male, that any 

 particular description of her is unnecessary: she 

 makes her nest upon the ground, in a dry tuft of 

 rushes or grass, of such withered materials as are 

 found near, and lays four eggs of a greenish cast, 

 spotted with brown. 



The Curle\v is met with in most parts of Europe, 

 from Iceland to the Mediterranean Islands. In 

 Britain, their summer residence is upon the large, 

 heathy, and boggy moors, where they breed. Their 

 food consists of worms, flies, and insects, which 

 they pick out of the soft mossy ground, by the 

 marshy pools which are common in such places. 

 In autumn and winter they depart to the sea-side, 

 in great numbers, and there live upon worms, 

 marine insects, and other fishy substances, which 

 they pick up on the beach, and among the loose 

 rocks and pools left by the retiring tide. 



