Its habits are most varied, for it stays sometimes on the flat sea shore, sometimes on the border of the desert, sometimes on a rocky river-bank; with us it settles on pasture land, fallow fields, marshy flats, and lowlands. It destroys everywhere immense numbers of grasshoppers and beetles. Crickets are the food it likes best, but it also eats snails, and sometimes even frogs. It is, therefore, of great service to the farmer, more especially as it frequents and cleanses the fields in large numbers. It does not require much protection for it is an extremely shy bird, and he must be a clever marksman who can bring it down with a shot. But the sportsmen of the lowlands are even more cunning than the Curlew. At certain places they lure the birds with a decoy—a bird dried in the oven which is placed on the lake edge—and a pair of Curlews are almost certain to fall victims to the ruse.
Its call-note is audible at a considerable distance, floating pleasantly, something like a modulated human whistle: “Klowit!” or “Taue taue,” and “Tlouid tlouid!” Shepherds believe that when this cry is heard it foretells wind.
The Common Curlew is to be found in Great Britain, wherever there are sand and mud-flats, and rocks covered
USEFUL.
THE COMMON CURLEW.