202 HISTORY OF THE 



curving downward and tremulously vibrating, it sails along, ut- 

 tering its usual "Peet-weet, " as it goes. 



Their food consists of insects and small forms of life, found 

 at or near the water's edge. 



The parents both assist in hatching and rearing of the young, 

 which leave the nest and follow, soon after they are hatched. 

 They run swiftly, and it is surprising how quick they will disap- 

 pear at the first note of warning, by hiding or squatting close 

 to the ground; and in case of real danger the old birds flutter 

 about in great distress, and in various ways try to divert atten- 

 tion and draw the intruder away. 



Their nests are placed on the ground and lined sparingly 

 with grasses and leaves; usually on open, dry lands near water, 

 and in a tuft of grass or under a low bush; (I once found a 

 nest under an old drift log.) Eggs four, 1.30x.93; creamy 

 buff to olive drab, spotted and blotched with dark brown and 

 shell markings of lilac; thickest and running somewhat together 

 around large end; in shape, pyriform. 



Ge^us NUMENIUS Brisson. 



"Legs covered anteriorly with transverse scutellfe, laterally and beliind with 

 small hexagonal scales. Bill very long, exceeding the tibia, and curved down- 

 ward from the terminal half; the culmeu rounded. Tip of bill expanded later- 

 ally and club shaped. Grooves of bill not reaching beyond the middle. Tertials 

 as long as primaries. 



"Bill variable in length, always longer than tarsus, sometimes exceeding tar- 

 sus and toes; It is nearly straight at the base, then decurving quite rapidly to the 

 tip, where the upper mandible is thickened downward beyond and over the 

 lower; lateral grooves occupying only the basal half or third of the bill; under 

 mandible not grooved beneath; cleft of mouth extending but little beyond the 

 base of culnien. Feathers of head extending about the same distance on both 

 mandibles; those of chin to opposite the anterior extremity of the nostrils. 

 Tarsi nearly twice as loug as middle toe, rather more than twice the bare part 

 of tibia, covered behind by hexagonal scales larger than the lateral ones. Outer 

 toe webbed for its basal joint; inner for half this distance. Tail short, nearly 

 even, not quite half the wings. Tertials as long as the primaries." 



Numenius longirostris Wils. 



LONG-BILLED CURLEW. 

 PLATE XII. 



Summer resident; rare; in migration, common. Arrive about 

 April 1st; begin laying early in May; a few remain into October. 



B. 549. R. 558. C. (543. G. 261, 94. U. 2(34. 



