ESQUIMAUX CtTRLEW. 97 



ESQUIMAUX CURLEW. 



(JVumenitis hudsonicus, Lath. Ind. ii. p. 712. sp. 7. Boxap. Synops. 

 No. 243. Scolopaz horealis, Wilson*, vii. p. 2*2. pi. 56. fig. 1. Phil. 

 Museum, No. 4003.) 



Sp. Charact. — Crown dark brown, v,'ith a whitish medial line; 

 plumage of the rump uniform with the rest ; long axillary feathers 

 banded with grey and pale rufous ; bill much arched. 



The Short Billed Curlew, after passing the winter south 

 of the United States, arrives in large flocks, on the coast 

 of New Jersey, early in JMay, frequenting the salt marshes, 

 muddy ponds, shoals, and inlets: feeding, at this time, 

 on small worms, land and marine insects, fry, minute 

 shell-fish, and sometimes the seeds of aquatic vegetables, 

 which they usually collect at the recess of the tide, in com- 

 pany with various other waders ; and at high water retire 

 into the marshes, and sometimes to the dry ridges, and pas- 

 tures, particularly at a later period, in June, where accom- 

 panied by the Long Billed species, they feed much on dew- 

 berries, becoming very fat and well flavored. In the northern 

 regions, and the fur countries, to which they retire to breed, 

 they also collect Crow-berries ( Empetrum migrum) for 

 food. In June, they take their departure to the north ; col- 

 lecting together from the marshes in one general flock, they 

 rise to a considerable elevation, about an hour before sunset, 

 and forming a long angular phalanx, keep up a constant 

 whistlingr on their march, as if conversino- with each other, 

 in order to forget or lessen the toil and hazard of their ad- 

 venturous journey. Their flight is steady, like that of the 

 Woodcock ; and, in consequence of their sympathy for each 

 other, readily come within gun shot of those who can imitate 

 their call. While thus beating the air in company, the 

 transient glittering of their speckled wings, as they glide 

 9 



