54 
BRITISH BIRDS* 
CURLEW. 
[Scolopax nrquata, Lin . — Le Courllsi Buff.) 
The Curlew generally meafures about two feet 
ill length, and from tip to tip above three feet. 
The bill is about feven inches long, of a regular 
curve, and tender fubftance at the point, which is 
blunt. The upper mandible is black, gradually 
foftening into brown towards the bafe ; the under 
one flelh coloured. The head, neck, upper part 
of the back, and wing coverts, are of a pale brown, 
the middle of each feather black, edged and deep- 
ly indented with pale rufl: colour, or light grey. 
The bread:, belly, and the lower part of the back 
are dull white, the latter thinly fpotted with black, 
