ESQUIMAUX CURLEW 



2S 



and minute shell fish. They are most commonly seen on mxid 

 flats at low water, in company with various other waders; and at 

 high water roam along the marshes. They fly high and with great 

 rapidity. A few are seen in June and as late as the beginning of 

 July, when they generally move off* towards the north. Their ap- 

 pearance on these occasions is very interesting: they collect to- 

 gether from the marshes as if by premeditated design, rise to a 

 great height in the air, usually about an horn* before sunset, and 

 forming in one vast line, keep up a constant whistling on their 

 march to the north, as if conversing with one another to render 

 the journey more agreeable. Their flight is then more slow and 

 regular, that the feeblest may keep up with the line of march, 

 while the glittering of their beautifully speckled wings sparkling 

 in the sun produces altogether a very pleasing spectacle. 



In the month of June, while the dew-berries are ripe, these 

 birds sometimes frequent the fields in company with the Long-billed 

 Curlews, where brambles abound, soon get very fat, and are at 

 that time excellent eating. Those who wish to shoot them, fix up 

 a shelter of brushwood in the middle of the field, and bv that 

 means kill great numbers. In the early part of spring, and in- 

 deed during the whole time that they frequent the marshes, feed- 

 ing on shell fish, they are much less esteemed for the table. 



Pennant informs us, that they were seen in flocks innume- 

 rable on the hills about Chatteux bay, on the Labrador coast, 

 from August the ninth to September sixth, when they all disap- 

 peared, being on their way from their northern breeding place. — - 

 He adds they kept on the open grounds, fed on the empetrurn 

 nigrum J and were very fat and delicious.^' They arrive at Hud- 

 son's Bay in April, or early in May; pair and breed to the north 

 of Albany fort among the woods, return in August to the marshes, 

 and all disappear in September.^ About this time they return in 



^ PMl. Trans. I.XII, Ml. 



