232 NEW-YORK FAUNA BIRDS. 



FAMILY SCOLOPACIDJE. 



Bill generally long, slender, feeble, soft, cylindrical, mostly obtuse at the •point. Face 

 feathered. Legs long, or moderately so. Toes four, except in the genus Calidris. 

 Hind toe short, scarcely touching the ground. Anterior toes entirely divided, or united by 

 a small jnembrane. Tibia partly naked. 



Obs. This family contains at present upwards of one hundred species, distributed over the 

 globe. About twenty-eight are found in the United States, and of these we have to enumerate 

 twenty-five observed in the State of New-York. 



GENUS NUMENIUS. Latham. 



Bill very long, slender, arched, rounded. Upper mandible longest, and furrowed throughout 

 three-fourths of its length. Nostrils basal, oblong-linear, placed in the lateral groove. 

 Toes connected at the base ; hind toe bearing on the ground. Tibia moderately denuded. 

 Tail short, rounded, and of twelve feathers. 



THE LONG-BILLED CURLEW. 



NuMENIUS LONGIROSTRIS. 

 PLATE XCVI. FIG. 216. 



(STATE COLLECTION.) 



Numenius longirostris. Wilson, Ann. Orn. Vol. 8, p. 23, pi. 61, fig. i. Bonap. Ann. Lye. N. Y. Vol. 2, p. 314. 

 Richardson, F. B. A. Vol. 2, p.37G. Nuttall, Man. Ornithology U. S. Vol. 2. p. 

 95. Audubon, B. of Am. Vol. G, p. 35, pi. 355. Gikaud, Birds of Long island, p. 271. 



Characteristics. Crown blackish, with whitish streaks, and no medial line. Rump uniform 

 in color with the rest of the plumage : long axillary feathers, rusty, 

 without bars. Bill6"0-8 - 0, much arched. Length, 26'0. 



Description. Bill long, slender, somewhat dilated at the tip, and curving most towards 

 the extremity. Nail of the middle toe dilated at the base, slightly incurved, and pointed at 

 the tip. First quill longest, acute. Tail much rounded. 



Color. Above blackish brown (deepest on the back), spotted with grey and reddish. 

 Chin, line over and round the eye soiled white. Bill deep brown. Legs bluish. Neck 

 finely streaked with blackish brown. Beneath reddish buff, unspotted. Axillary feathers 

 salmon-colored. Tail barred with pale rufous and brown. 



Length, 25-0- 27' 0. 



