CURLEW.
comuimuling brae: wheeling round the mat and screaming loudly it alights at a short distance and
attempts lo attract utlention.
The egg-, arc large and usually pear-shaped, their colour and the markings resembling to a certain extent
those of the well-known l'eowit. The scanty nest is commonly placed in some slight hollow, either sheltered
by a heather hush or in themidst of a tuft of coarse herbage.
The young for lite most pari take their departure from the hills on which they arc bred shortly after
attaining sufficient power of wing to undertake an extended flight. Before the cud of August considerable
Hooks of immature birds may often be seen on Brcydun mudflats in Norfolk ; and on two or three successive
seasuus I shot them in the Nook at Itye hi Sussex as early as the last week in July.
Owing to the numbers that arc to bo seen on many parts of the coast during summer, I am of opinion
that the Curlew does not pair and nest before the age of two or, more probably, three years.
Every fowler is well acquainted with the note of this species. A very faint idea, however, of any thing
iippriiaehing the wild and far-resounding cry can be conveyed by words to those who have not listened to the
birds themselves. Large Hooks often Hy mute by day, while the smaller bodies proclaim their presence by an
exceedingly noisy demonstration. During the night, in rough and stormy weather, Curlews may frequently bo
heard screaming loudly as if separated from their companions. At such times, especially during autumn, when
large bodies of Waders of various specie* are passing over, 1 have repeatedly remarked that the cries of the
Redshanks would almost drown the voices of the other deuiicus of the mudflats. The note is by no means
difficult to imitate; but although n single wandering bird can usually he decoyed within range, it is seldom that
any largo number are to he imposed upon; their line of flight may possibly be slightly changed and the
whistle occasionally responded to, but they almost invariably continue on their course.
Late in autumn large flocks of Curlew have, on two or three occasions, come under my nutice in the
North Sea some miles from laud; in every instance they were heading southerly. Whether these birds
were migrants from the north of Europe, or merely on the passage from one part of our coasts to another, I can
offer no opinion. During the years I was in communication with the light-ships off the cast const, hut little
could lie learned Concerning their movements in this quarter, none lieing taken on any of the vessels. A few
years ago, however, nine were secured one stormy night on the " Owcrs " light-ship, stationed in the Channel
a low miles west from Bognor.
WHIMBREL.
NUMEROUS PSjEOPUS.
oasts with wh eh I am a piainted this spo ies has
or three or fou seasons from Hay 1850, I
fifty or even o re hundred, resorting to the r ludflats
At times th so large bo dies appeared to arbour
week or fortn gut, though in must instance I was
s, fresh-coniers taking tiie r places from day to day.
tpproaehing m lltitudes, sh wing themselves 1 s early
n May that th main flock were looked for.
Ok almost every portion of the English and Scotch c
come under my observation during spring or autumn. E
remarked flocks, numbering from twenty or thirty up to
and the extensive sands about Rye and 11 annoy Marsh,
about certain spots (particularly tic No ik at Rye) for a
led to belle re our visitors remained only for a few houi
I have seen a few stragglers, the advanoe-guard of the ••
as the latter cud of April; it was not, however, till e u-ly ii
Tenterdcn Fair, which was held about this time, was eagerly anticipated by the old gunners of this
remote part, the " Potercl" (as these birds were termed in the district) being supposed to arrive in full force
about or shortly after that date. The Bar-tailed Godwits, which also passed along tho shore at this season, were
known by Iho same title among the majority of those gunners. Occasionally I heard both species termed
"Maybirds"". Whirahrel and Godwit will often settle in company on the flats when cither resting or feeding,
though on flight it is seldom that they are intermixed during the spring. As a rule, Wlihnbrol reach the
Sussex coast shurtly in advance of the main body of the Godwits. Tho alterations that have taken place in
this locality, owing to the reclaiming of the mudflats, have gradually lessened the haunts of all the Wader
family, and tho numbers that now make any halt in the neighbourhood of their old quarters are small indeed.
Whimhrel still pass along the coast of Sussex at tho same dates as formerly, though of late years tho
flocks that liavo come under my notice seldom consisted of above twenty or thirty individuals; 1 observed the
same decrease on tho cast coast in spring. It is no uncommon occurrence for one or two, probably nonbrifding
birds of the previous season, to lie noticed in these localities in Juno or July. During .autumn 1
igli the birds are constantly scon while on the rel
> stragglers not uncommonly delay their depart m • met with
tally seen
them at that
On more th ceasion during tho autumn I hare come across specimens of the Whimhrel »
exceedingly diminutive that they might with good reason almost be supposed to belong to some other specie
I much regret that every individual of this small race that came into my possession has been lost sight c
consequently there are none to refer to for measurement. Under date of September 13, 1878, while gnnnir
on Breydon mudflats, I find the following entry in my notes:—" Wind still blowing strong from the nort