64 WILD-FOWL AND SEA-FOWL OF GREAT BRITAIN 



they mean to profit by it. You may fire if you like, 

 but you will not frighten them ; they know as well 

 as you do that they are well out of gun-shot. They ' 

 lower their flight, drop their feet down, and settle 

 one on each side of that Curlew. 



Then you hear a fierce cackling, and see the 

 Curlew lifted off the water and carried along be- 

 tween them, the Gulls' wings threshing against each 

 other. Their prey is dropped ; some digs from their 

 powerful bills and a few shakes are given, and it is 

 all over ; and a few bunches of feathers go canting 

 away over the tide. For a few minutes the birds 

 float, no doubt wondering that their prey has gone 

 so soon. Then they flight once more, quite ready 

 for a duck next time if they can get one, or for some 

 dead fish that has been washed on shore. One 

 would not know which to give the palm to, for being 

 wide awake ; Cobs or Curlews are both hard to get 

 at. As a rule, Curlews, when the tide is full, visit 

 the upland sheep-pastures, or the fields with root 

 crops. A few fine old birds feed in the gripes just 

 off the tide ; it is these odd birds that get the 

 number of their mess wiped out at times. Now 

 and then they are a little out of their reckoning, but 

 it is dangerous work going after them, the surround- 

 ings are so treacherous ; it is wild sport, that is all 

 one can say for it. If I had the choice between a 

 Gull and Curlew, for eating, I should unhesitatingly 

 pick up the Gull, although he has been called a 

 carrion feeder. Domestic ducks are not very par- 

 ticular what they deal with, yet no one calls them 



