320 
Allen’s naturalist’s library. 
of the Indian Peninsula in winter. The absence of the black 
stripes on the lower back and rump is simply caused by the 
fact that the birds are killed in winter plumage before the 
black stripes, which are part of the summer dress, have begun 
to develop. In winter the Curlew also visits the countries of 
the Mediterranean, Africa, and Madagascar. 
Hatits.— The following excellent account of the Curlew has 
been given by the late Mr. Seebohm: — “ In summer, when it has 
retired to the heaths and mountain-marshes, it rises, screaming 
in the air at the least alarm, arousing all its companions in the 
vicinity, so that soon the whole swamp or heath resounds with 
their wild impressive cries. The Curlew flies with great quick- 
ness, flapping its long wings with regular beats, or sometimes 
holding them motionless and expanded as it glides along 
for a few' yards ere alighting. 'I'he wings are bent at a con- 
siderable angle, the neck outstretched, the bill slightly de- 
pressed, but the legs are extended straight, and show beyond 
the tail. As a rule the Curlew flies high ; when flushed it soon 
mounts into the air, and at times performs various graceful evo- 
lutions above its marshy haunts. Upon the ground the Curlew 
wa ks about in a solemn Heron-like manner, only occasionally 
running, as if such a mode of progression were beneath its 
dignity. It often wades on the little pools on the marshes or 
sea-shore, and bathes frequently. It is very fond of basking 
in the sun on some exposed sand bank, where it can easily 
detect the approach of danger. It is very seldom that the 
actions of the Curlew on the ground can be watched in sum- 
mer, when the bird is in its breeding haunts ; it is so excessively 
wary th.at it generally takes wing long before it is observed, and 
it so much resembles the colour of its surroundings that it is 
almost invisible uniil it takes wing. Its feeding-grounds on the 
moors are in marshy spots, near the dark brown peaty pools, 
where rushes grow so thickly as to hide it from view’, or by the 
side of the little trout-streams that dance and dash along over 
the heath. Here its actions and mode of progression are very 
similar to those on the shore ; it probes the soil in search of 
food, and e.xplores the surrounding herbage for a similar 
purpose. Every now and then it raises its long neck above the 
vegetation, looking w'arily around, as if scenting danger from 
afar, ready at the least alarm to fly hastily away to safer 
