TOWNSEND AND WETMOKE : THE BIRDS. 179 



aa. Bill shorter than tarsus with middle toe, equal to or shorter than 



tail Phaeopus. 



The species of Numenius are larger than those of Phaeopus, but 

 there is no pronounced gap between the two groups, as P. tahiticnsis 

 and P. hudsonicus form intermediate steps between the larger and 

 smaller curlews. 



17. Phaeopus tahitiensis (Gmelin). 



Scolopax tahitiensis Gmelin, Syst. nat., 1789, 1, pt. 2, p. 6.56. (Tahiti). 



Ten specimens of this fine curlew were collected as follows : — Maka- 

 tea, 6 October, and IVIakemo, 22 October, Paumotu Islands; Taritari, 

 Gilbert Islands, 6 -lanuary; and Rongelab, Marshall Islands, 18 Janu- 

 ary. Two males and two females were taken at both of the last two 

 localities. Two birds from the Paumotus are in rather worn plumage. 

 January specimens from Taritari and Rongelab have molted and are 

 in fresh plumage save for one bird (a female) from Rongelab. In it 

 the wings and tail show much wear. One male from the same locality 

 has a strong wash of rufous on the neck and upper breast. In one 

 male and one female from Taritari the dark markings of the throat and 

 upper breast are nearly obsolete. 



18. Heteractitis incanus (GmeHn). 



Scolopa.r iiKcinm Gmelin, Syst. nat., 1789, 1, pt. 2, p. 6.58. (Eimeo and 

 Palmerston Islands). 



Nine specimens in the collection were taken at Nukuhi\a, Marquesas 

 Islands, 16 September; Rangiroa, 21 September, and Makemo, 20 

 October, Paumotu Islands; Funafuti, Ellice Islands, 24 December; 

 Tarawa, 3 January, and Taritari, 6 January, Gilbert Islands; and 

 Kusaie, Eastern Carolines, 9 February. A female taken at Rangiroa, 

 Paumotu Islands, 21 September, still retains a part of the barred adult 

 plumage on the under parts. The other specimens are in winter 

 plumage. This species seems to range in winter across most of Poly- 

 nesia and the bird secured at Kusaie marks a point near its westward 

 limit. In the present collection it was replaced at Uala by the allied 

 H. brevipes. 



