CURLEW. 193 



rally fly very high in the air during the day, but lower as the 

 night comes on ; and when thus proceeding they fly in 

 an angular line. The locality chosen by the Curlew is, as 

 before named, either the sea-coast or some low, marshy, and 

 open meadow, and also extensive heathy moors or commons ; 

 and owing to this propensity of frequenting exposed places, it 

 is with the greatest difficulty that one can approach it suffi- 

 ciently near to get within the range of a gun. It is a very 

 easy matter to know the presence of the Curlew, in conse- 

 quence of its continued cry when on the wing; and by 

 watching where the bird alights during cold, stormy weather, 

 and walking up to it against the wind, the newly invented 

 wire cartridges may enable a sportsman to shoot it on the 

 ground. We have often seen one of this species perch in the top 

 branches of some lofty elm or beech trees that border Chertsey 

 Mead. The Curlew walks with great ease on the ground, 

 with long or moderate strides according to pleasure, and 

 wades, as a matter of course, not only along the edge of the 

 water, but up to its belly. It is equally able to swim if re- 

 quired, although this is not of frequent occurrence, neither 

 does the bird seem to be enabled to encounter any strong 

 stream. 



When on the wing the Curlew proceeds with regular 

 strokes of the wing, and does not generally fly fast ; when 

 it has occasion to hurry, or to meet a gust of wind, it does 

 not extend its wings at full length, but repeats the strokes 

 more frequently. When in the act of alighting, the Curlew 

 almost closes its wings, and comes down like a ball, until 

 reaching the ground within a few feet, it rises once more in 

 an arched sweep, and thus facilitates its grounding. When 

 several Curlews are alighting thus at the same time, it is a 

 very pretty sight. The light colouring of the under parts of 

 the Curlew, and the position in which it flies, sufficiently dis- 



