100 
NATURAL HISTORY. 
and marine insects. In summer they retire to the mountain- 
ous and unfrequented parts to breed. Their fiesh is rank 
and lishy. Curlews differ much in size, some weighing 
thirty-seven ounces, and some not twenty-two; the length 
of the largest is twenty-five inches. The upper parts of 
the plumage are of a pale brown; the. breast and belly 
white, marked with dark oblong spots. Latham enume- 
rates about eleven species, foreign and domestic. 
The Snipe genus includes better than thirty species. 
Of these the Woodcock is the most esteemed by the epi- 
cures. The Godxcit is less known : — It weighs twelve 
ounces and a half, and is in length sixteen inches. From 
the bill to the eye is a broad white stroke. The plumage 
on the tipper parts is of a light reddish-brown, the belly 
white, the quills are blackish. They are taken in the fens, 
and when fattened, are esteemed a great delicacy. The 
lied Godwit is larger, but less common in England. 
The Green-shank is not so common as the godwit : It is 
about fourteen inches in length ; the bill two inches and a 
half long. The plumage on the upper parts is a brown ash 
colour; on the lower parts white. The legs are green, 
whence it takes its name. It has the same manners and 
character as the godwit, and has also a white line over the 
eye ; but does not weigh more than half as much. 
The Red-shank weighs about five ounces and a half, and 
is twelve inches long. The bill is two inches, red at the 
base, and black towards the point. The head, neck, and 
scapulars are dusky ash-colour, obscurely spotted with black ; 
the back is white, spotted with black : the breast is white, 
streaked with dusky lines. When its nest is in danger, it 
makes a noise somewhat similar to that of the lapwing. 
The Common Snipe weighs about four ounces; but there 
is a species, though exceedingly rare, which is more than 
double that weight. The Jack Snipe was formerly sup- 
posed to be the male snipe, from its frequenting the same 
haunts; it is, however, now well known to be a different 
species. It weighs scarcely two ounces. 
'The Sandpiper genus includes, of well-known birds, the 
Lapwing , the Huff, the Knot , the Vvrro , the Turnstone , 
and the Dunlin. The first of these is too common a bird 
to require a particular description. The Ruff is an animal 
less generally known, being confined to the north of Europe, 
during the summer, and in England only visiting certain 
parts, viz. Lincolnshire, the Isle of Ely, and the adjacent 
