THE CURLEW. 189 



their silent return over the lofty trees which border the bay, we 

 witness their most interesting placid flight, when the wing is kept 

 at full stretch, but motionless, except an occasional beat for the 

 onward impetus. What a graceful skim through the air they 

 take before alighting ! presenting such a contrast to the wild 

 upturning flight and harshly reverberating cry, which makes the 

 welkin ring, as we come suddenly upon them in the far retired 

 and crater-like hollows of the mountains. 



Sept. 11, 1839. — I have often remarked, as I did to-day, dif- 

 ferent species of our Grattatores, — curlews, redshanks, knots, 

 dunlins, &c. — when disturbed by being perseveringly fired at, 

 take to the air, and call with all their might, as if to summon every 

 individual of their species within hearing ; then mounting high 

 into the atmosphere, and continuing to call so long as within audible 

 distance, they betook themselves in the direction of Strangford 

 Lough. Thither do they also go when a very high spring tide 

 covers the whole beach, so as to leave them no resting-place from 

 their enemy — man. It is not because their feeding- ground is 

 entirely covered that they thus depart; for the same species, 

 with the exception of the curlews and whimbrels, are content to 

 await, close at hand, the falling of ordinary tides. The dunlins, 

 ring dotterels, and redshanks, taking up their quarters within 

 Thomson's embankment ; herons and curlews (in part) in the 

 large fields of Port- William, Parkmount, &c. ; and all these (ex- 

 cept the herons), with other species, may be seen on the slightly 

 raised promontories or jutting-points of Holywood rabbit-warren. 

 During high water is their time of rest, as I have often, on such 

 occasions, been much pleased by witnessing their varied attitudes 

 of repose. All, however, do not close their eyes ; for, as in the 

 case of bipeds of a different order, 



" Some must watch while others sleep ; 

 Thus — runs the world away !" 



Its Food. — The curlew is considered by shooters both a night 



