Food. 
62 GRALLATORES. NUMENIUS. CURLEW. 
long cylindrical bills. Early in spring they commence their 
polar migration, and retire inland, selecting moors, extensive 
waste grounds, and mountainous heaths, abounding inmarshes 
and pools of water, as appropriate habitats during the breed- 
ing season, when they separate into pairs. Their food con- 
sists of worms, reptiles, insects, and mollusca. ‘The plumage 
of the young is similar to that of the old birds; and the 
former are only to be distinguished by the bill being shorter 
and softer. Their flight is strong, and generally at a consi- 
derable height in the air, and in disposition they are very 
timid and wary. 
COMMON CURLEW. 
Numentus Arquaté, Lath. 
PLATE XIII. 
Numenius arquata, Lath. Ind. Ornith. 2. 710. 1.—Flem. Br. Anim. 1. 101. 
136. 
Numenius major, Steph.—Shaw’s Zool. 12. 26. pl. 4. 
Scolopax arquata, Linn. Syst. 1. 242. 3.—Gmel. Syst. 1. 655. 
Numenius, Raii Syn. 103. A. 1.—Will. 216. pl. 54.—Briss. Ornith. 5. 
311. 1. 
Le Courlis, Buff: Ois. 8. 19. 
Le Courlis d’Europe, Cuv. Reg. Anim. 1. 485. 
Grand Courlis cendré, Temm. Man. d’Ornith. 2. 603. 
Grosse Brachvigel, Bechst. Naturg. Deut. 4. 121. 
Common Curlew, Br. Zool. 2. 176. 63 —Arct. Zool. 2. 462. A.— Will. 
(Angl.) 254. pl. 54.—Lath. Syn. 5. 119.—Id. Sup. 242.—Pult. Cat. Dor- 
set. 14._Lewin’s Br. Birds, 4. pl. 153.—Mont. Ornith. Dict. and Sup. 
—Bewick’s Br. Birds, 2. 54.—Shaw’s Zool. 12. 26. pl. 4.—Flem. Br. 
Anim. 1. 101. 136. 
Provinciat.—Whaap, Stock Whaap, Whitterick. 
Tuts is a well-known and numerous species, and, though 
found in these islands in certain situations throughout the 
whole year, is nevertheless subject to regular periodical mi- 
grations. During winter these birds are inhabitants of the 
sands and muddy shores of the sea, and the mouths of rivers, 
then associating in flocks, and feeding upon marine insects, 
5 
