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lakes and marshes of Sikkim. Captain Beavan saw a Curlew in Burmah which he believes to be 

 the present species. Mr. Swinhoe writes that it is found on the shores of South China and 

 Formosa in winter ; and he further refers to what he considers to be a distinct species, differing 

 in having longer legs and bill, as found in Japan during the summer ; but I believe that the bird 

 he refers to is nothing but the Common Curlew. Dr. Dybowski sent home from Dauria speci- 

 mens of a Curlew which is referred to by Mr. Taczanowski under the name of N. nasicus, 

 Temm., which, after carefully reading the description given by Mr. Taczanowski, I believe to be 

 N. arqiiatus. As regards the range of the Common Curlew in Africa, it has been recorded from 

 the eastern, southern, and western portions of that continent. 



Mr. J. H. Gurney, writing on the birds of Natal and South-eastern Africa, states that " there 

 are great numbers of these birds in the Bay of Natal ; and I think there are two or three species, 

 as they vary much in size. They are exceedingly shy and difficult to shoot ; they are gregarious, 

 and feed at low water on the mud-banks ; they utter precisely the same note as the Curlew in 

 England, and their habits appear to be the same." And it is, according to Mr. E. L. Layard, " not 

 uncommon " in South Africa " on the whole extent of the sea-border. I never knew of its breeding 

 in the colony, though it is found here throughout the year. I met with it up the whole east coast 

 as far as the Line." Mr. Andersson says that it is " sparingly met with in the interior of Damara 

 and Great Namaqua Land, but it is more frequent along the coast and on the islands. It is most 

 commonly seen in pairs, but at times in small flocks. It is an exceedingly wary bird, and, from 

 the open character of the localities it frequents, often defies the efforts of the sportsman." 

 Mr. B. B. Sharpe, in his paper on the ornithology of Fantee, records it from the Naqua river ; 

 Messrs. Shelley and Buckley from the Gold Coast; and Dr. H. Dohrn from Prince's Island, 

 where, however, it is not common. 



The Curlew is perhaps one of the most wary and cautious of our waders. Frequenting as it 

 does the open treeless moors and plains during the summer season, and the flat portions of the 

 coasts during migration, it soon perceives any intruder approach ; and long before one arrives 

 within gunshot it is up and off, uttering its loud harsh alarm-note. It is surprising how difficult 

 it is to stalk and shoot a Curlew. When travelling along the coast of Finland in the spring of 

 1861 I found this species common everywhere on the dreary wild moors we crossed, and often 

 stalked them most pertinaciously, generally, however, with no other result than wearied limbs 

 and loss of patience ; for the birds would generally allow me to get nearly within shot, and then 

 lifting the wings and taking a preliminary step or two, would rise and fly off, wailing at me as if 

 in mockery. When out collecting on the shores of the Gulf of Bothnia I often spent the whole 

 night on the coast or along some of the small bogs ; for at that season (May) the nights were 

 quite light enough to allow one to shoot with a rifle at long distances, and the atmosphere during 

 the balmy soft arctic summer nights is so much preferable to the heat of the day, especially for 

 a shore shooter, that I generally went out collecting at night. When passing through the 

 meadows which fringe the shore I never went far without disturbing a Curlew or two ; and their 

 wild uncanny cry, breaking the solitude of the night, reminded me forcibly of the old Scotch 

 idea that the Curlews and such like " lang-nebbet things " are not altogether unconnected with 

 the evil one. During the breeding-season they are especially watchful, and clamorous when 

 disturbed. Mr. Bobert Gray writes that in Scotland he has " at various times wandered over 



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