THE CURLEW. 



563 



skim along at a low elevation, averaging abont four or six feet from the ground, and conse- 

 quently afford little mark. 



Sir W. Jardine writes as follows concerning the habits of the Curlew: "They retired 

 regularly inland after their favorite feeding-places were covered. A long and narrow ledge of 

 rocks runs into the sea behind which we used to lie concealed for the purpose of getting shots 

 at various sea-fowl returning at ebb. None were so regular as the Curlew. The more aquatic 

 were near the sea and could perceive the gradual reflux; the Curlews were far inland, but as 

 soon as we could perceive the top of a sharp rock standing above water, we were sure to 

 perceive the first flocks leave the land, thus keeping pace regularly with the change of tides. 

 They fly in a direct line to their feeding-grounds, and often in a- wedge shape ; on alarm 

 a simultaneous cry is uttered, and the next coming flock turns from its course, uttering in 

 repetition the same alarm-note. In a few days they become so wary as not to fly over the 

 concealed station. 





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CUKLEW. — Numenius arqiiatus. 



The breeding-grounds of the Curlew are more inland, the locality varying according to the 

 character of the district, wild heath and high hilly grounds being chosen in some places, while 

 marshy and boggy soils are favored in others. The nest of this bird is very slight, being only 

 a small heap of dry leaves or grasses scraped together under the shelter of a tuft of heather 

 or a bunch of rank grass. There are usually four eggs, placed, as is customary with such 

 birds, with their small ends together, and being much larger at one end than at the other. 

 Their color is brownish-green with some blotches and splashes of dark brown and a darker 

 green. The young are curious little birds, long-legged, short-billed, covered with puffy down, 

 and with very little indications of either wings or tail. 



The general coloring of the Curlew is brown, lighter upon the head and neck, and darker 

 upon the back, each feather being darker in the centre than on the edges. The upper tail- 

 coverts are white streaked with brown, the smaller wing-coverts are edged with grayish-white, 

 and the tail is gray-white barred with brown. The wings are black, and some of the quills 

 have white shafts. The chin is white, and the under parts are also white, but with a tinge of 



