When the young are hatched, they remain near the spot; and
and and road them ; and at that time they are tender
d to the sea-coasts, and have now lost their clear

ith all his might.
a pointer will st
are nearly all disperse
g, feeding at low ti
b, they show a remarkable instance of the instinctive

buffeting and whauping W
are for a long time difficult to raise 5
and well-flavoured. By autumn they
They remain here until next sprin

on their return again at the eb
migratory sea- and water-fowl. During my occasional

ee tle: de on the shore, and retiring for a few miles to
inland fields at high water ;
knowledge implanted, and most ¢
residence on the Solway, for some years |
They retired regul
f rocks runs into the F
ea-fowl returning at ebb.
e the gradual reflux ;

onspicuous, in the
yast in the month of August, these birds, with many others, were the
objects of observation. arly inland after their favourite feeding-places were covered. A
Jong and narrow ledge 0 rith, behind which we used to lie concealed for the purpose
of getting shots at various S None were so regular as the Curlew. The more
e near the sea, and could perceiv
anding above water, we wer
ige of the tides. They fly in a direct line to their feeding-

aquatic wer the Curlews were far inland ; but as soon
as we could see the top of a sharp rock st
the land, thus keeping pace regularly with t
grounds, and often in a wedge shape 5 on

gn repetition the same alarm-note.
They are one of the most difficult birds to approach, except during

e sure to perceive the first flocks leave
he chat
alarm, a simultaneous cry is uttered, and the next coming flock
turns from its. course, utterit In a few days they become so wary as
not to fly over the concealed station.
spring.; but may be enticed by imitating their whistle.” ;

« The cry of the Curlew,” says Thompson, “ is by far the loudest uttered by any of our grallatorial birds.
It will perhaps be scarcely credited that it can be heard at the distance of nearly three English miles ; yet,
L have heard it on calm moonlight nights, when at the ex-
@ the flight of these birds from Harrison’s Bay and Cons-
ticular banks respectively about two and three

under peculiar circumstances, such is the case.

tremity of the bay at Holywood Warren, awaitin
water, whence the Howing tide would drive them from par
The call from the first-named locality sounded quite near, and from the

miles distant from my station.
incing with certainty that all the banks,

latter distinct, though much more faintly, the state of the tide ev
ply with water for the birds to be on them.”

except the two alluded to, were covered too dee
“we were much amused with what appeared to us to be

«Whilst in Norway,” observes Mr. Hewitson,
and unnoticed habit amongst the Grallatores or Wading-birds. We found it to be a practice by
e Redshank and Greenshank, to settle upon trees; but what surprised us more
ight, as it frequently did, on the tops of the highest trees of the

quite a new
no means uncommon with th

than all, was to see the long-legged Curlew al
ar it as it passed from tree to tree, utter its loud clear whistle. Mr. George Matthews

that Curlews were common during summer, and generally in
he tops of the cabins of the peasantry.”

pine forest, and to he
informed me, on his return from Norway,
pairs about Trondbjem, where they were usually seen perched on t
Mr. Selby states that “ the nest is placed on the ground amongst heath or coarse herbage, in a shallow
part scraped in the ground, and lined with decayed grass and rushes. The eggs are four in number, placed
with their large ends outwards, and the smaller meeting to a point in the centre of the nest, of a pale olive
colour, blotched all over with two shades of bronw. ‘The young leave their place of birth as soon as hatched,
and are then covered with a thick yellowish-white down, varied with spots and masses of brown. By degrees
ie feathers develope themselves ; but the young birds are not sufficiently fledged to take wing ull they are
siX or seven weeks old. During this period they are assiduously attended by their parents, who lead them
2 appropriate feeding-places, and, by brooding over, protect them from the cold and wet. Under these
circumstances Curlews lose the excessive shyness that characterizes them at all other times, and, when the
senng are approached, will fly close around the intruder, uttering their cry of cours in quick repetition.
The flesh of these birds is excellent, being juicy and highly flavoured, and is in great estimation for the

table.” ; :
A partial, but not very striking, change takes place in the plumage of the Curlew at the pairing
ee eee eas Be aeee more apparent, the lighter portions of the feathers
ee aiiianvones - a : a fu the stripes of black on the neck and chest becoming more
g h sexes is alike ; the female is generally the larger of the two; but to

-Season,

The Plate represents an adult and two young ones, of the natural size