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The Common Curlew possesses, like the Whimbrel, a most extensive range, being found through- 

 out Europe and Asia down to the south of Africa, and on the islands of the Indian archipelago. 

 Throughout Great Britain it is common during all seasons of the year in one or the other part of 

 the country, though not found, except in occasional cases, during the breeding-season in the 

 south of England. I am, however, informed by Mr. Brooking Rowe that it breeds in Devonshire. 

 I have found it common in the autumn all along the south coast of England, as also on the east 

 coast. Mr. Stevenson writes that in Norfolk this species, " although observed on our coast 

 during every month of the year, has never been known to nest in this county. Further north it 

 breeds in April and May, but throughout the latter month I have remarked them at Hunstanton, 

 and have heard their loud whistle in June when out at sea, and seen stragglers at the same date 

 both at Cromer and Salthouse. Yet, though such may be considered as exceptional cases, the 

 bulk of those which annually visit us in autumn and winter are absent only for a very short 

 period. By the 1st of July Mr. Dowell has known them arrive at Blakeney in some numbers, 

 and has seen them there in flocks of forty or fifty by the end of that month. Between the 25th 

 and 30th of July, I have also watched small parties flying low over the sea at Cromer, keeping 

 steadily on in a south-westerly direction, but rarely exceeding six in number, as if young and old 

 together. Later still in the autumn, their migratory movements are evinced by their cries as 

 they pass over our towns and cities by night, attracted and bewildered by the glare of the lamps ; 

 chance stragglers, also, when thus calling to their mates, will frequently answer to a whistle in 

 imitation of their notes. In like manner, attracted by our lighthouses and lightships on the 

 coast, they are heard at times flying round and round for hours, but as far as I can ascertain are 

 never known to ' strike the glasses,' as is the case with many other species. In winter during 

 hard weather their numbers are greatly increased from the north, most of which continue their 

 course southward should the frost continue ; but even in the sharpest weather I have seen them 

 in Breydon. Though always plentiful on the Breydon muds, this species is met with in still 

 larger numbers at Blakeney ; and thence, westward, along the flat shores of the wash to Lynn, 

 may be termed their chief stronghold in Norfolk. In the spring of 1863 I found them very 

 plentiful at Hunstanton, though almost unapproachable on those level sands." 



In Scotland it is, according to Mr. Robert Gray, "an abundant bird everywhere in suitable 

 localities, extending to all the outer islands ; it does not, however, breed, so far as I know, on the 

 moors of that group. In the nesting-season, indeed, it is perhaps more numerous in the hilly 

 districts of the southern and western counties below Perthshire and Argyleshire than elsewhere 

 in Scotland." In the autumn and winter, Mr. J. A. Harvie Brown tells me, " large flocks frequent 

 the muddy estuaries of the Forth, Tay, and other larger rivers, and repair at feeding-time to the 

 same fields day after day, until a change of wind causes them to shift to less-exposed quarters. 

 The Curlew, hoAvever, does not appear to be so much affected by a change of wind as most of our 

 other shore-birds are." 



It has not been recorded from Greenland or Iceland ; and as regards its occurrence on the 

 Fseroes, Captain Feilden writes that it " is only known in Feeroe as an autumnal and winter 

 visitant. Yarrell (Hist. Brit. Birds, 3rd ed. p. 513) mentions that this bird visits the Fseroe Islands 

 in summer ; I think this is a mistake. It is singular that it is there entirely absent as a breeding- 

 species, giving place to the Whimbrel, as it does also to a certain extent in the Shetland Islands." 



