194 SCOLOPACID.E. 



tinguish this bird from the foregoing species : its long legs 

 extended behind, and its straight neck and long arched 

 beak, inform the observer of the species. 



By nature the Curlew is timid and watchful, and when 

 put up by a sportsman it invariably flies far away, or leaves 

 the neighbourhood. When the present species is worn out 

 or sleeping, it squats or lies down close to the ground, but 

 not otherwise ; and it never hides among long grass or 

 herbage. It is a very customary attitude with the Curlew 

 to stand on one leg, like the storks. The Curlew is soci- 

 able towards its own species, but not so towards others : if 

 any of these birds fly over the ground where one of this 

 species is located, and it calls to its fellows, the travellers 

 answer, Avithout, however, stopping, and their note is only 

 lost in the increasing distance, until quite out of hearing. 



It is a very rare occurrence to tame a Curlew in confine- 

 ment, and consequently a difficult matter to keep them 

 for any length of time. The best method is to pinion the 

 bird and inclose it in a large space of ground, where it can 

 feed itself on worms, slugs, and insects, in a semi-wild state. 



In a natural state the Curlew feeds on worms, slugs, and 

 small Crustacea, and on most insects that occur by the water-side 

 and in moist places. On heaths it is very fond of bilberries, 

 whortle-berries, and the like ; also blades of grass, and the tops 

 of vegetable productions, besides lichens and twigs. On in- 

 vestigation small pebbles are generally found in its stomach. 

 This bird requires much water, for it drinks several times in 

 the day, and is very fond of bathing. 



In the beginning of May the Curlew retires to more 

 northern parts to breed, choosing barren, sandy, or heathy 

 valleys in the Highlands of Scotland, some interiors of the 

 Zetlands, and equally lonely and appropriate spots in other 

 countries not more south than Holland, but as high north 



