520 



CLASS AVES. 



In the first edition of the " R^gne Animal," M. Cuvier 

 separated PhcBopus and Falcmellus from the true curlews, 

 and formed them into two distinct subgenera. In his new 

 edition he has left PhcBopus with the curlews, and changed 

 the position of Falcinellus, as we shall see hereafter. 



The curlews live on the shores of the sea and rivers, in 

 marshes and meadows, and often advance into the inland. 

 They live on worms, insects, snails, and small shell-mollusca ; 

 tlieir walk is grave and measured ; they do not perch ; their 

 flight is sustained, and very elevated ; they emigrate in large 

 flocks, but remain isolated during the period of reproduc- 

 tion ; they nestle on the sand or in the grass, and the 

 young quit the nest the moment they are born to seek their 

 own food. The females of these birds are distinguished with 

 difficulty from the males. There are but two species in 

 Europe, but a greater number are to be found in Asia, 

 Africa, and the New World. 



The Common Curlew {Scot. Arcuata) is found in the 

 north of Europe, even to Siberia ; and in the south, in Italy, 

 and in Greece. It is also met with in Egypt, and in other 

 countries of Africa and Asia. It lives on the sea coast, and 

 on banks of rivers and muddy lakes ; in meadows, fields, and 

 sandy places, near the sea or other waters. It stops but little 

 in the fields, which it traverses in flocks. It is also seen in 

 downs and heaths, where it nestles. In France the curlews 

 are numerous in the neighbourhood of the Loire. This bird 

 lays four or five eggs, the ground of which is rather olive, 

 with round spots of a reddish-brown, which form a sort of 

 crown towards the thick end. The flesh of the curlew, 

 though formerly esteemed, is no longer in any great repute, 

 though its scent is of that description that the best dogs will 

 set it for partridge. White curlews are sometimes to be met 

 with ; but this is an accidental degeneration, the same as in 

 many other species. 



