101 



Distinctions. Adults have decidedly round breast spots and a slight greenish lustre 

 on the back. Young autumn birds resemble the Solitary but are distinguished by white 

 instead of barred axillars. 



Field Marks. Size and distinct round spots on breast. When flying it may be 

 distinguished from the Sohtary Sandpiper, which it most resembles, by the white line 

 along the edges of the secondaries and the much smaller amount of black and white 

 barring on the tail. The flight, when the observer becomes famihar with it, is also quite 

 characteristic. 



Nesting. Slight hollow in ground at no great distance fro i water, in the shelter 

 of a bit of shrub or grass. 



Distribution. Breeds over the whole of eastern Canada to the northernmost parts 

 of Ungava. Common throughout its range. 



This is the commonest summer Sandpiper in Canada; occasional pairs 

 are to be found along the smallest streams. It frequents all kinds of ground ; 

 sandy beaches, gravelly reaches, mud flats, or rocky shores. Almost any 

 Sandpiper seen in summer near our waters may be put down as this species 

 unless there are good grounds for other identification. Its habit of bobbing 

 its body up and down occasionally, even when apparently at rest, or more 

 rapidly when excited, has given it the common name "Tip-up". Its 

 white-barred wings, pecuhar flight, with a few quick beats followed by a 

 short sail on decurved wings, and its loud triumphant " pewit-pewit-pewW 

 as it alights on the stream margin well ahead of the intruder are famiUar 

 to all observers. One can chase it from point to point for some distance 

 from its home ground, when, joined by its mate, it will circle well around 

 the disturber and return again to the place from which it started. 



Ecoyiomic Status. Though normally frequenting water edges it is often 

 seen in the adjacent fields, running between the furrows of newly turned 

 earth or rows of growing plants. Its food is mainly, if not entirely, insec- 

 tivorous, hence it is beneficial to the farmer. The species has not suffered 

 severely from shooting and seems to hold its own in the most cultivated 

 sections. 



Genus — Numenius. Curlews. Fr. — Le Courlis, Le Corbigeau. 



General Description. Large Shore Birds between 13 • 50 and 24 inches long. Coloured 

 in various shades from cream to weak brown, mottled above, lighter and clear below, neck 

 and breast finety striped and with more or less suffusion or suggestion of buff over all. 

 The bills are long and curved decidedly downward. 



Distinctions. Large size, decurved bill, and general buffy colour. Distinguished 

 from the Godwits by down-curved instead of slightly up-turned bill. 



Field Marks. Large size, and decurved bill, general buff colour. 



Large size among birds is a distinct menace to their existence. The 

 Curlews are a good example of this and unless intelligent measures to pro- 

 tect them are taken in the near future there will soon be none left. In the 

 east the Curlews have almost disappeared, but in the west there is still 

 a fair number left. The vegetable part of their food is largely wild fruit and 

 in the ]Maritime Provinces they frequent barrens and upland bogs for 

 bake-apple berries and cranberries. In cultivated fields, insects are their 

 chief food and as many noxious species, including grasshoppers, are con- 

 sumed their presence is decidedly beneficial to the farmer. 



264. Long-billed Curlew, sickle-bill curlew, fr. — le courlis a long bec. 

 Numenius americanus. L, 24. The largest of the genus. The coloration of all the 

 Curlews is quite similar, but the Long-bill is distinctly buff below instead of creamy- 

 white (see previous heading). 



