SCOLOPACID.E: CURLEWS. 



841 



Analysis of Species. 



Feathers of thighs bristle-tipped tahiliensis 



Feathers of thighs normal. 



Rump white, more or less spotted with dusky. 



Upper tail-coverts and under wiug-coverts white spotted aud barred with dusky phceopus 



Rump, upper tail-coverts, and lining of wings not white. 



Primaries varied with rufous. General coloration strongly rufous, especially below; lining of wings deepest 



rufous, little or not varied. Large ; bill 4-G-S inches longiroslris 



Primaries varied with rufous or whitish. General coloration scarcely or not rufous ; lining of wings entirely 



varied. Medium-sized ; bill 3-i inches hudsonicus 



Primaries not varied with rufous or whitish. General coloration scarcely or not rufous ; Uning of wings en- 

 tirely varied. Smallest ; bill under 3 inches boreahs 



N. longiros'tris. (Lat. longus,\ong; rostrum, hvAk. Fig. o90.) Long-billed Curlew. 

 I?iG Curlew. Hen Curlew. Sickle-bill. Sabre-bill. Smoker. Mowyer. Bill 

 of extreme length and curvature, measuring from 4 to 6 or 8 inches, rarely a little more still ; 

 in some young birds under 3.00; commonly 5.00-6.00. Of largest size: length 20.00-24.00 



Fig. 590. — Curlew. 



or more; extent say 38.00; wing 10.00-12.00; tail about 4.00; tarsus 2.75-3.50. Plumage 

 very similar to that of the Godwit, Limosa fcdoa : ])rcvailing tone rufous, of varying intensity 

 in different specimens, usually deepest on lining of wings, v/hich are little varied with other 

 color. Primaries varied with rufous. Top of head variegated with blackish and rufous or 

 whitish, without distinct pale median and lateral lines. Upper parts brownish-black, speckled 

 with tawny or cinnamon-brown, each feather having several indentations or broken bars of 

 this cidor; rufous prevailing on wing-coverts. Tail-feathers and secondaries cinnamon-brown, 

 with pretty regular dark bars throughout. Under parts rufous or cinnamon of varying inten- 

 sity, usually deepening to chestnut under wings, fading to whitish on throat; jugulum and 

 fore-breast with dusky streaks wliich tend cm sides of breast and body to arrow-heads or more 



Fio. 5'.11. — Whimbrel. (From Seebolini'.s Cli.ir.uinul.i.) 



or less complete bars; lining of wings, axillars, and crissum, innstly umnarUed. tlinugh some 

 spots may appear. No white on rump, tail, or wings. Hill black, mudi of under mandible 

 palo flesh-color or yellowish ; legs dark bluish-gray, drying darker. Little variation in plum- 

 age with sex, age. or season. Chicks hatch in wliitish down, tini:'d with yellow bt low aud 

 butf above, tliicklv blntclird abovi- witli brownisli-black ; bill .straight, an inch long. Like 



