Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume V.djvu/588

 584. CURLING high ; in the open grounds in the vicinity of the sea, it feeds on insects, especially grass- hoppers, seeds, worms, and berries. In the au- tumn they are very fat, whence their common name, and are considered great delicacies. They are not shy, running, squatting, and fly- ing very much like a snipe. The Hudsonian or short-billed curlew (JV. Hudsoniciis, Lath.) is considerably larger than the last named species. Its bill is about 4 in. long, the total length to end of claws 21 in., extent of wings 33 in., and weight a little over a pound. The upper part of the head is deep brown, with a central and two lateral whitish lines; between the bill and eye, and behind the latter, brown- ish ; the neck pale yellowish gray, with longi- tudinal brown streaks; chin grayish white; upper parts generally blackish brown, with numerous brownish white spots; wings and rump lighter ; tail and its upper coverts with brown and yellowish gray bars, the former white-tipped ; primaries brownish black ; lower parts grayish white, the sides cream-colored and barred with grayish brown ; shaft of first quill white. This species often associate with the sickle-bill, and arrive in large flocks on the New Jersey shore in May from the south; they soon move northward to breed ; they re- turn toward the last of August, remain a few weeks, and then proceed to the south to spend the winter. The habits and food are about the same as in the other species. The flight is high and rapid, and in their migrations ac- companied by a constant whistling; they fly steadily, answer the sportsman's whistle readi- ly, and are easily shot ; they are considered ex- cellent eating. Like the long-billed curlew, this species will linger around its wounded com- panions until many of a flock are killed. The largest of the European curlews is the JV. ar- quatm (Linn.), of the size of a capon; the general color is brown, with the edges of the feathers whitish ; the rump is white, and the tail barred with white and brown. It is a well flavored species. The whimbrel (N. phceo- pus, Linn.) is about half the size of the pre- ceding, which it resembles in its plumage. CURLING, a favorite Scottish game, played on the ice with large spherical stones, flattened so that their length shall be equal to twice their thickness. They are carefully selected, so that they shall not be liable to break, have their under side polished, and vary in weight from 30 to 45 Ibs. They have handles of wood or iron by which they are impelled over the ice. The path in which the stones move is called the rink, and may be from 30 to 50 yards long, and 8 or 9 ft. in breadth. At each end of the rink a mark or hole is made in the ice, called the tee. The players are divided into two parties, and each person endeavors either to leave his own stone as near the tee as possible, or to remove those of the opposite party, or to guard those of his own side. When all have played, the one nearest the tee counts one, and the second, third, &c., if of the same CURRAN side, count each one more. The side which first scores 31 wins. CURRAN, John Philpot, an Irish orator, born at Newmarket, county Cork, July 24, 1750, died in Brompton, a suburb of London, Oct. 14, 181 7. His parents were persons of culti- vation and refinement, and took great pains with his education. He entered Trinity col- lege, Dublin, in 1769, with a view of preparing for the church, but afterward determined to adopt the profession of the law, and in 1773 was entered as a student of the Middle Tem- ple, London. The next year he married the daughter of Dr. Creagh of Dublin, and in 1775 he was called to the Irish bar. He was dis- tinguished for his social qualities, and formed a club under the name of the Monks of St. Patrick, composed of the leading liberals of Dublin. He was often in great pecu- niary embarrassment; but Lord Kilwarden, his political opponent but life-long personal friend, threw business in his way, and he soon had a large and lucrative practice, becoming the most popular barrister of his time. In 1782 he was returned to the Irish parliament as member for Kilbeggan, where his attacks upon the government involved him in two duels, which however terminated harmlessly. His eloquence was bold, impassioned, and original, designed to move the feelings rather than to convince by argument. His personal appearance was not prepossessing. His look was soft and boyish. His voice was not natu- rally good, but he improved it by careful train- ing. In the height of his popularity his wife eloped. He obtained a verdict against her seducer, but would not touch the damages awarded ; he even allowed her a stipend, and went to London to see her when she was sup- posed to be dying. He was an ardent sup- porter of Catholic emancipation and liberal principles generally. His most brilliant ora- tions were made in the courts in the defence of persons charged with political offences. His most noted speeches were those in defence of Theobald Wolfe Tone, Major Rowan, Oliver Bond, the brothers Shears, Jackson Finney, and Finnerty. He was strongly opposed to the union of Ireland with Great Britain, and after its accomplishment in 1800 he thought of emigrating to the United States. In 1803 he made one of his greatest speeches in defence of Owen Kirwan. The death of Pitt in 1806 having thrown the power into the hands of Fox and the liberals, Curran accepted the of- fice of master of the rolls in Ireland, although he desired that of attorney general. The posi- tion was not suited to him, and from this time until his death he was subject to great dejec- tion of spirits. In 1814 he exchanged his office for a pension of 2,700. He resided chiefly in his mansion at Brompton, where he enjoyed the society of Sheridan, Home Tooke, Lord Erskine, the prince regent, and other dis- tinguished men. William Godwin and Thomas Moore were his devoted friends. He was con-