In the Neighbourhood of Salisbury. 



223 



procured from Poole. About the year 1856 there were several about 

 there. In 1859 Mr. Hart's father killed a pair in the harbour. 

 Another was shot at Wareham, on October 22nd, I860, and four 

 more from the same district in 1870. And there were other speci- 

 mens procured besides these. The most recent occurrence was one 

 at Christchurch, in 1876, a very good bird, which Hart has in his 

 collection. 



Scolopacid^:. 



Numenius Arquata. " Curlew." So called from the shrill cry 

 that it utters, resembling- in some degree the name it bears. Oc- 

 casionally met with in our parish and district. I remember a few 

 years ago, as I was walking down Catharine Street, in Salisbury, 

 on a dark still night, hearing a flock of Curlew passing over the 

 town. The glare of the town lights had, doubtless, attracted them, 

 and their reiterated cry overhead was most fascinating to the ear, 

 now sounding directly over your head, so that it caused you to peer 

 into the darkness, in a vain endeavour to discern it ; and now dying 

 away in the extreme distance, like a far- sounding echo. They ap- 

 parently circled round for some time, for it was many minutes ere 

 the last note died away upon the ear. These birds are exceedingly 

 wary, and difficult to approach, and as they never shelter themselves 

 in herbage, it is not an easy matter to obtain a specimen just when 

 you want one. Sometimes you may make a successful drive, by 

 ensconcing yourself behind some bank near the shore, while they 

 are started from their feeding-ground a little way inland. But you 

 must pit your wits against theirs anyhow. The only one I ever 

 shot myself was on Sturt Island, a mud flat about a mile off Burn- 

 ham, where, having dug a hole in the sand at high tide, we waited 

 for the ebb of the water. I managed to obtain a shot at one in 

 this way, but the bird, being hard hit, flew out to sea, and dropped 

 dead in the water some two hundred yards off, and having no dog 

 with me I lost it. Some few years ago three birds of this species 

 frequented our water-meadows for some little time ; they were shot 

 by James Butler, the keeper, who was a thorough sportsman, and 

 grudged no pains in stalking any bird he wished to procure. I had 



