124 
CURLEW. 
CUCULUS (Linn^us.) — *Ciickoo, a genus thus characterised. Bill 
somewhat compressed, slightly curved, and as long as the head ; nos- 
trils at the base round, and margined by a naked prominent membrane ; 
wings of mean length, the first quill-feather short, the third the longest 
in the wing ; tail more or less wedge-shaped ; feet having two toes 
before and two behind, the outer hind toe reversible, the fore toe 
joined at the base, the hind toes entirely divided ; shanks short, and 
feathered a little below the knee.* 
CUDDY. — A name for the Gallinule. 
CULTRATE. — In the form of a bill-hook, or pruning-knife. 
CURLEW {Numenius arquata^ Latham.) 
■^ Scolopax Arquata, Linn. Syst. 1. p. ’242. Gmel. Syst. 2. p. 655 Numenius 
Arquala, Ind. Orn. 2. p. 710. 1. — Temm. 2. p. 603. — Flem. Br. Anim. p. 101. 
Numenius, Raii, Syn. p. 103. A, 1. — Will. p. 216. t. 54 Briss. 5. p. 311. 1. 
— Ih. 8vo, 2. p. 289. — Le Courlis, Buff. 8. p. 19. — Common Curlew, Br. Zool. 
2. No. 276. t. 63.~Ih. fob 118.— Arct. Zool. p. 462. A.— Will. (Angl.) p. 294. 
t. 54. — Alhin, 1. 1. 79. — Lath. Syn. 5. p. 119. 1. — Ih. Supp. p. 242. — Pult. Cat. 
Dorset, p. 14. — Wale. Syn. 2. t. 133. — Lewin’s Br. Birds, 4. t. 153. 
Provincial . — Whaup. * 
This species is subject to vary considerably in size, weighing from 
twenty to upwards of thirty ounces ; the length of the largest about 
twenty-five inches. The bill is from six to seven inches long, dusky 
black, irides hazel. The head, neck, scapulars, and coverts of the 
wings, pale brown, each feather black in the middle, and lightest at the 
edges ; breast and belly white, marked with oblong black spots ; lower 
part of the back white, with a few dusky spots ; the tail and its upper 
coverts barred with yeUowish white and black ; quills black, spotted on 
the inner webs with white ; the legs are long, of a bluish grey colour. 
Male and female much alike. 
The Curlew is common on most parts of our coast in winter, where 
it feeds on small crabs and other marine insects, and worms. At this 
season it is gregarious. 
In the spring these birds retire inland, and most commonly to the 
more northern parts of this kingdom, to breed. For this purpose, the 
most retired situation is resorted to, either on the mountains amongst 
the heath, or in the extensive, unfrequented marshes. We have taken 
the young on the mountains in Northumberland, and in the low, 
swampy grounds in the isle of Mull in Scotland. It makes no nest, 
but deposits its eggs amongst the heath, rushes, or long grass, generally 
four in number, of a pale olive colour, marked with brownish spots. 
*The Curlew in his natural state is so remarkably shy, that he is 
with difficulty approached ; but like other birds wholly dependent for 
their daily subsistence, soon l)ecomes docile. One that was shot in the 
