GOLDEN PLOVER, CURLEW, GRAY PLOVER. 151 



are usually found at the proper season ; for the 

 sheep is a close feeder, and likes to range on 

 knolls and hills. Along with the golden plover, 

 and apparently intimately associated with them 

 and forming part of the flocks, comes the cur- 

 lew, another handsome and delicious bird. It is 

 a little larger than the golden plover, stouter in 

 build, and gray in color. In size and shape the 

 curlew resembles a well-grown woodcock, but with 

 longer wings and a thinner head. It has a bill 

 about two inches long, curved in shape, and is not 

 so high on the leg as its companion, the golden 

 plover. They may be easily distinguished from 

 each other when the flock is on the ground, and 

 also when in flight. The curlew affords as good 

 sport to the shooter as the plover, and the epi- 

 cure, who really knows how good it is, esteems it 

 as a dish dainty and delicate as the golden plover 

 itself, though, perhaps, not quite so delicious as 

 the gray or upland plover, of which I shall treat 

 further on. In the curlew there is no apparent 

 difference between the male and female. In some 

 flocks it will be found to be nearly as numerous as 

 the plover, while in others the latter are in a large 

 majority. When in the spring ploughing the rich 

 soil of our prairie States is turned up, a vast 



