of other notes, and the deafening shrieks of a large flock 

 of these birds when suddenly alarmed at night or in a fog 

 certainly form one of the most startling pieces of bird- 

 music with which I am acquainted. I have never had 

 much success in keeping young Curlews alive in captivity, 

 but adult birds, captured without injury, generally do 

 well in our aviaries, and feed heartily upon worms and 

 chopped meat : in the summer months some of my 

 Curlews have to a considerable extent supported them- 

 selves by very adroit fly-catching, a process for which 

 their curved soft bills appear to be singularly ill-adapted ; 

 I have, however, constantly and repeatedly seen them 

 pick house-flies from the walls and gravel of the aviaries 

 with the unerring aim of the smaller Herons. Our 

 Curlew may be roughly said to be found throughout 

 Europe, Asia, and Africa, and in other parts of the world 

 is represented by very similar and closely-allied species. 



