The Hudsonian Curlew 
Left to themselves, the 
Curlews will often while away 
a month or so at a given 
station, even though they 
have hailed from Alaska and 
are bound for Ecuador. At 
such times they seem to be 
really resting up after the 
ardors of intense domestic 
experience, crowded at times 
into a period of six weeks, 
in the high North, and the 
labors incident to a journey 
the first leg of which has 
already measured 2000 miles. 
The Curlews deploy, then, upon the dry sands of the upper beach and 
either potter about on listless lookout for passing insects, or else squat 
upon the sand, tuck bill under wing, and lose themselves in dreams. 
There is always at least one wary fellow on guard, however, and let but 
the smallest appearance ot motion, be it only a khaki hat, break the purity 
of the sky line among the attendant sand dunes, and a quaver of warning 
puts the scattered flock on guard. Sleepyheads are stealthily withdrawn ; 
the birds rise slowly and begin to creep toward their leader, their neutral- 
colored bodies scarcely distinguishable against the background of sand; 
and all meanwhile scanning the horizon for the danger sign. If the 
alarm spreads, all run down the beach slope for a quick take-off, pass over 
the surf line, and then parallel the shore with moderate, firm wing-strokes 
until a safe distance has been reached. 
The major portion of the Curlews’ fare is also served on the beaches. 
Although they do sometimes glean at the water’s edge, they are fonder ot 
following the drift line where the Talicrid amphipods have burrowed in 
the sand. These sand-fleas are secured not alone on the surface by agile 
pursuit, but they are haled from their sandy lairs. The Curlew does not 
bolt his prey on faith, but he flings it down upon the beach for a glance 
of inspection. The crustacean promptly attempts to decamp, and the 
bird plays cat-and-mouse with it until it is subdued, or possibly until it is 
shaken free of sand, before he will condescend to swallow it. The general 
scene of these spirited operations bears witness after the birds have fled, 
for the sand is stippled by the proddings of a thousand beak-strokes. 
Other food—seeds, berries, grasshoppers and other insects- is secured 
about the brackish lagoons; and in the alternation of these pursuits there 
is never wanting variety in the Curlew day. 
128 7 
Taken near Santa Barbara Photo by the Author 
ALARM 
