^ 5 + 
NATURAL HISTORY. 
Thcfe birds are frequently fecn, in the 
winter, on the Eallern flioi'cs of England; 
in Cloiicefterndre, iho mouth of the Severn; 
and fonietimes on the lakes of Shropfhirc. 
They have a lively chirping note, and very 
frequently wade in the waters. 
The CURLEW., 
T 
Ml. his bird is, in length,, from the top oU 
the bill to the end of the claws., twenty- ' 
nine inches; and the breadth- between the 
extreme points of the wings, when extend- 
ed, is three feet four inches : the bill, which 
is nearly fix inches long, is narrow,, a little 
crooked, and of a dark brown colour ; the 
legs are long, bare; and of a dufty blue with 
a thick membrane meeting at the firfl joint,, 
and marked with irregular brown Ipots. 
This bird is of a greyifli colour, and the 
flefh very rank and fifiiy, notwithftanding the 
Englifli proverb in its favour. They fre- 
quent fea coafls in large flocks, in the win- 
ter time, walking on the fands, in fcarch of 
their prey, which confifts of crabs, and other 
marine infedts. In thefummer they retire to 
the moiintanous parts of the country, where 
they pair and breed. 
The lefier curlew, called .Itfo the winibrel, 
greatly refemblcs this bird; the chief differ- 
ence 
