246 
NATURAL HISTORY 
black at the point: the upper mandible something longer 
than the lower, the tongue is sharp, the ears open, and 
large. The feathers upon the head are a light brown or 
reddish colour, with their middle parts black, but about 
the eyes of a more pale or yellowish tincture; the neck 
and breast are pretty much of the same colour with the 
head, only dispersed with transversed black lines, edged 
with a pale yellow. The tail feathers are alternately 
crossed with black and white lines. The legs of a dusky 
greenish colour, and the claws black. 
They feed by the sea-side upon sandy shores; down 
like the gull. The throat and neck of the hen is gray, 
and the rump white, speckled or powdered with blackish 
spots. They are in some places called the stone plover. 
Curlew. ( Numenius . PI. 42.) There are eleven spe- 
cies of this bird, differing very much in size, the longest 
measuring about twenty-five inches, and sometimes 
weighing thirty-six ounces. These birds fly in consi- 
derable flocks, and are well known upon the sea coasts in 
most parts, where, and in the marshes they frequent in 
winter, they feed on worms, frogs, and all kinds of ma- 
rine insects. In April, or the beginning of May, they 
retire into mountainous and unfrequented parts of the 
sea shore, where they breed, and do not return again till 
the approach of winter. There have been some advo- 
cates in favour of the flesh of this bird, but in general 
it is strong and fishy. It has a long black bill, much 
curved or arched, about eight fingers long, and beginning 
to bend a little downwards about three inches from the 
head. The middle parts of the feathers on the head, 
neck and back, are black; the borders or outsides ash 
coloured, with an intermixture of red; and those between 
the wings and back are of a most beautilul glossy blue, 
and shine like silk. The vent and belly are white. The 
feet are divided, but joined by a little membrane at the 
root. The tongue is very short, considering the length 
af the bill, and bears some resemblance to an arrow. 
The female is somewhat larger than the male, which 
is commonly called the jack curlew, and the spots with 
