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NUMENIUS. CUKLEW. 



The Curlews are birds of moderate size, especially re- 

 markable for the great length and curvature of their bill, 

 which is at least twice as long as the head, slender, arcuate, 

 larger at the base, tapering to the end. Upper mandible 

 with its dorsal outline arcuate, the ridge broadly convex, the 

 sides slightly sloped, the edges involute, with a very narrow 

 groove ; the tip elliptical, obtuse, and extending beyond that 

 of the lower ; the nasal groove very long and narrow. Lower 

 mandible with the angle very narrow, extending to the 

 middle, and bare anteriorly ; the dorsal line concave, the 

 ridge broadly convex, the sides of the crura a little inflected, 

 and having a longitudinal groove. 



Both mandibles very thick, internally having a narrow 

 central groove, not occupied by the tongue, which is short? 

 sagittate, narrow, tapering, grooved above, acute. Palate 

 with a central and two lateral ridges. Throat very narrow. 

 (Esophagus very long, of nearly equal diameter throughout ; 

 proventriculus oblong, completely encircled by large oblong 

 glandules. Stomach a large and powerful gizzard, having 

 the muscles distinct, the tendons radiated, and the inner 

 coat rugous. Intestine long, of moderate width ; coeca rather 

 slender, cylindrical, rather short : rectum cylindrical ; cloaca 

 globular. 



Eyes rather small ; eyelids feathered. Nostrils linear, 

 pervious, basal. Aperture of ear moderate, roundish. The 

 feet are long and slender ; the tibia bare below, reticulated 

 all round with angular scales ; tarsus long, similarly reticu- 

 late, but having for two-thirds of its length anteriorly a 

 series of short scutella; toes rather short, slender, with 

 numerous scutella above, broad and flat with flattened 



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