CURLEW. 
323 
250. Numenms arquata. Curlew. 
A very local resident ; largely reinforced in winter, 
when it is found commonly on all our coasts, and more 
rarely inland. 
Gilbert White wrote in his Journal on January 30th, 
1784 — "A long-billed curlew has just been shot near 
the Priory. We see them now and then in very long 
frosts." 
The bird is best known, of course, as a winter visitor 
to the coast, and it was not until the publication of 
the third volume of the Fourth Edition of Yarrell, in 
1885, that it was known to nest in Hampshire. The 
expression used there is that — "a few pairs may be 
scattered through Wilts and Hants." When Kelsall 
published his list in 1890, he had the authority both 
of the Hon. Gerald Lascelles and of Mr. Hart for the fact 
that a pair or two occasionally nested on the wildest 
heaths of the New Forest, and since that time various 
observers have added their testimony. 
Mr. Hart has young birds in his collection from the 
district, and Mr. Meade- Waldo thinks the species should 
be reckoned as a resident. 
Besides the few pairs of nesting-birds, many non- 
breeding spend the summer on our coasts. 
The Winchester College collection contains a specimen 
obtained near Worthy in 1876, and Captain Reid met 
with others at Fleet Pond in the following year. 
Bell met with the bird at Selborne some time before 
1877. 
One was killed out of a large flock at Basingstoke 
on August 5th, 1886. 
