WHIMBHEL CURLEW. 257 



Remarks. — Numenius hudsonicus of America is so very 

 similar to this species in size and colour, that in description 

 they can hardly be distinguished, and were it to be met with 

 would most probably be considered as the Whimbrel. In 

 that species, however, no part of the back is entirely white, 

 the rump being all barred with brown, and the tail much 

 darker. This Hudsonian Curlew M. Temminck considers as 

 identical with our Whimbrel, alleging that the individuals 

 which he has received from North America do not differ 

 from those killed in Europe. But in more than twenty 

 instances he has made similar assertions, which the more 

 correct comparisons of others have obliged him to withdraw. 

 Mr. Selby follows him in considering the Hudsonian Curlew 

 as identical with the Whimbrel. I have examined and 

 described both, and agree with the Prince of Canino and 

 Mr. Audubon in considering them distinct. 



