THE PIGMY CURLEW. 
285 
The first pigmy curlew on record, as noticed on our coast, was 
shot in October 1820, and came into the possession of Mr. John 
Montgomery of Belfast, then studying and forming a collection 
of native birds. The description of Montagu enabled him at 
once to determine its species. On the 3rd of September of the 
following year, another, which was alone, was shot by the gen- 
tleman already named near Conswater : and in the year 1822, the 
species again appeared in the bay on the 31st of August, 
upon which day and the 2nd of September, eleven* individuals 
were killed. These were noted by Mr. Montgomery to be ^^as 
described by Montagu, only more ferruginous on the edge of 
the back feathers and scapulars : in some, the breast was quite 
ferruginous.^^ t In the month of September that year, one fell 
to my own gun at Holywood warren : in which locality I shot 
single birds in the same month of the two following years, one only 
appearing on each occasion. Their dimensions (though Kttle 
exceeding those of their congener and close ally, the dunlin) made 
known their species at a glance in every instance. The pigmy 
curlew as it appears on the shore is a graceful, pretty-looking 
bird, and particularly interesting from presenting so pleasing a 
miniature of the great curlew. To the shore- shooters it soon became 
known, and an old man named Adams, who Kved at Conswater 
Point, and spent liis time between shoe-making and shooting, 
could single one out from a flock of dunlins at the distance of 
from thirty to forty yards. He procured several of them in this 
manner, knowing that they could readily be disposed of, although 
their associate dunlins, even when in large flocks, were not con- 
sidered worth a charge of powder and shot. I have often since 
known the pigmy curlew to be killed in company with those 
birds ; occasionally with them and ring dotterels, once with those 
* I have since known this number to he killed in one day. 
t On this subject I have made the following Motes,-.— September 12, 1836. — Of 
seven recent specimens inspected, three were in adult ; four in immature plumage. 
September 11, 1841. — One obtained, the back of which presents a beautiful marbled 
appearance, from a mixture of the summer and winter dress. Specimens weighed by 
Dr. J. D. Marshall, varied from 1-|- to 2p ounces. On looking several times to the 
stomachs of these bii’ds, I have found only gravel and sand. 
