104 



KEARTONS' NATURE PICTURES 



heather, and ling. The eggs, usually 

 numbering four although only three 



YO0NO CURLEW HIDING. 



may sometimes be found are pyriform 

 in shape, and olive-green or brownish- 

 buff in ground colour, blotched and 

 spotted with dark green and blackish- 

 brown. 



Young Curlews leave the nest directly 

 they are hatched, and until they can fly, 

 at any rate, show the most implicit 

 obedience to parental authority. I have 



many times watched them through my 

 glasses wandering about in search of 

 tood, and noted that upon the first sound 

 of an alarm note, given by one of their 

 elders, they crouch flat upon the ground, 

 and keep quite still until they are warned 

 by an assuring parental cry that the 

 danger has passed. 



Adult Curlews manifest great courage 

 in the defence of their helpless chicks, 

 and may frequently be seen driving 

 crows, rooks, merlins, kestrels, and even 

 sparrow hawks away from their breed- 

 ing grounds. 



Although apparently ill-adapted for 

 perching in trees, I have on several 

 occasions watched Curlews resting on 

 the tops of dead larches in Westmor- 

 land. 



During the summer months they 

 feed largely upon beetles, and at this 

 season their long bills become very useful 

 in extracting such species as the dor 

 from its burrow. 



