324 PR.ECOCIAL GRALLATORES — LIMICOL^. 



parts of India, and Teniniiuck believes that the specimens from Japan are identical 

 Avith European birds. 



:\Ir. Dresser regards this bird as one of the most widely distributed of the Waders, 

 inasmuch as it is not only found over the entire Palsearctic Eegion, but also through- 

 out the Indo-]Malayan division, and in Africa as far down as the Cape. In Norway 

 it breeds north of the Fell-range, and in some regions, especially within the Arctic 

 Circle, it is very numerous. It occurs in the extreme northern portions of Scandi- 

 navia, but has not been found in Spitzbergen. In Central Eussia it is extremely 

 common. It only breeds in the dry steppes in Eastern Europe. 



Mr. Dresser states that its extra-limital range includes Siberia, India, China, Aus- 

 tralia, and Africa. It has been seen in Kamtschatka and in Eastern Siberia. In 

 Africa it has been taken on the Nile, at Mozambique, in Zanzibar, Madagascar, Mau- 

 ritius, etc. In South Africa it is rare, but specimens have been obtained even as far 

 south as Capetown. 



The presence of this species in Greenland, and its consequent claim to a place in 

 the North American fauna, rests on the authority of Reinhardt, who states (" Ibis," 

 18G1, p. 10) that he has seen, during recent years, live or six specimens from various 

 parts of Greenland, and that he knoAvs of six others that had previously been sent to 

 his father in the years 1831-1835 ; and he expresses the belief that it Avill yet be 

 ascertained that this Curlew breeds in Greenland. He is strengthened in this by his 

 conviction that the Numenius meJanorliynclnis of Bonaparte — attributed to Greenland 

 and Iceland (Compt. Rend. XLIII. 1021) — is no other than this species. 



The flesli of this bird is said to be excellent eating. The eggs are stated by Yar- 

 rell to be four in number. The ground-color is a dark olive-brown, blotched Avith a 

 still darker broAvn. They are pyriform in shape, and are very nmch like those of the 

 Numenius arqxiata, but smaller. They measure 2.34 inches in length by 1.67 inches 

 in breadth. 



Mr. Gerbe states that this species passes through France, in its autumnal migra- 

 tions, in the months of September, October, and November, and returns north again 

 in the mouths of April and May. In its spring movements it appears either solitary 

 or in small parties of tAvo or three. 



Captain Feilden, as quoted by Mr. Dresser, states that it breeds in considerable 

 abundance on the Faroe Islands, from the 25tli of May to the 17th of June. The 

 nest is simply a depression in the soil, oh the top of some slight elevation in any 

 comparatively dry spot in the marshes, and is usually lined Avith a feAv grass bents, 

 or leaves of Avild brambles. 



According to Mr. Dresser the eggs vary from 2.25 to 2.57 inches in length, and 

 from 1.57 to 1.61 inches in breadth. They are pear-shaped, and vary in color from 

 light olive-broAvn to dark greenish brown. Most of them are clouded and blotched 

 Avith dark umber-brown, the spots being more numerous toAvard the larger end. 



Numenius tahitiensis. 



THE BRISTLY-THIGHED CURLEW. 



Scolopax fahitensis, Gmel. S. N. I. 1788, 656. 



Numenius tahitiensis, Ridgav. Nom. N. Ain. B. 1881, no. 562. 



Numenius taitensis, Coues, Check List, 2d ed. 1882, no. 647. 



Numenius fcmoralis, Vf.k\.^, Zo^\. TJ. S. Expl. Exp. 1848, 283. — Cass. Orn. IT. S. Expl. Exp. 



1858, 316, pi. xxxA-iii. — Ridgav. Am. Nat. July, 1874, 435 (Fort Kenai, Alaska). 

 Otaheite Curlew, Lath. Synop. IIL 1781, 122. 

 Otnhite Curlew, Cotes, 1. c. 



