THE PIGMY CURLEW. 285 



The first pigmy curlew on record, as noticed on our coast, was 

 shot in October 1820, and came into the possession of Mr. John 

 Montgomery of Belfast, then studying and forming a collection 

 of native birds. The description of Montagu enabled him at 

 once to determine its species. On the 3rd of September of the 

 following year, another, winch was alone, was shot by the gen- 

 tleman already named near Conswater : and in the year 1822, the 

 species again appeared in the bay on the 31st of August, 

 upon which day and the 2nd of September, eleven * individuals 

 were killed. These were noted by Mr. Montgomery to be "as 

 described by Montagu, only more ferruginous on the edge of 

 the back feathers and scapulars : in some, the breast was quite 

 ferruginous ."t In the month of September that year, one fell 

 to my own gun at Holywood warren : in which locality I shot 

 single birds in the same month of the two following years, one only 

 appearing on each occasion. Their dimensions (though little 

 exceeding those of their congener and close ally, the dunlin) made 

 known their species at a glance in every instance. The pigmy 

 curlew as it appears on the shore is a graceful, pretty-looking 

 bird, and particularly interesting from presenting so pleasing a 

 miniature of the great curlew. To the shore- shooters it soon became 

 known, and an old man named Adams, who lived at Conswater 

 Point, and spent his time between shoe-making and shooting, 

 could single one out from a flock of dunlins at the distance of 

 from thirty to forty yards. He procured several of them in this 

 manner, knowing that they could readily be disposed of, although 

 their associate dunlins, even when in large flocks, were not con- 

 sidered worth a charge of powder and shot. I have often since 

 known the pigmy curlew to be killed in company with those 

 birds ; occasionally with them and ring dotterels, once with those 



* I have since known this number to be killed in one day. 



f On this subject I have made the following notes: — September 12, 1836. — Of 

 seven recent specimens inspected, three were in adult ; four in immature plumage. 

 September 11, 1841. — One obtained, the back of which presents a beautiful marbled 

 appearance, from a mixture of the summer and winter dress. Specimens weighed by 

 Dr. J. D. Marshall, varied from 1^ to Z\ ounces. On looking several times to the 

 stomachs of these birds, I have found only gravel and sand. 



