Class II. COMMON CURLEW. - . SiS! 



Their eggs* are of a pale olive color, marked 

 with irregular but distinct spots of pale brown. 

 Their flesh is very rank and fishy, notwithstand- 

 ing an old English proverb in its favor. 



Curlews differ much in weight and size ; some Descrip- 

 weighing thirty-seven ounces, others not twenty- ^^°^* 

 two ; the length of the largest to the tip of the tail 

 measures twenty-five inches ; the breadth three 

 feet five inches. The bill is seven inches long ; 

 the head, neck, and coverts of the wings, are of a 

 pale brown ; the middle of each feather black ; r 

 the breast and belly white, marked with narrow 

 oblong black lines ; the back is white, spotted 

 with a few black strokes ; the quil feathers are 

 black, but the inner webs spotted with white ; 

 the tail white, tinged with red and beautifully 

 barred with black; the legs are long, strong, 

 and of a bluish grey color ; the bottoms of the 

 toes flat and broad, to enable it to walk on the 

 soft mud, in search of food. 



* " The Curlew lays her eggs, generally four In number, 

 among long grass, on a few leaves carelessly drawn together. 

 Tliis species is found every where on the continent of Europe, 

 and extends to Africa and India ; a slight variety of it also in- 

 habits America" J. L. 



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