122 BULLETIN 14 6;, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



set my decoys only a few feet to windward of my stand, as it is customary for 

 them, when heading for the decoys, to keep falling off to leev.ard of them. 

 They are not an easy bird to kill, being strong and powerful, and as the dis- 

 tance is usually great at which they are shot at, owing to their vigilance, many 

 go off wounded and are not recovered. Should one or more be wing-bioken 

 they frequently commence falling, which causes the remainder of the flock 

 to hover around for a short time, apparently to give encouragement to the 

 wounded ones, and while their attention is thus absorbed they will often afford 

 the sportsman a second shot, if he keeps concealed. Were it not for the satis- 

 faction of getting so shy a bird, for, as a rule, they are but indifferent eating, 

 there would be little inducement to. waste the time necessary to obtain an 

 occasional one. I take a few every ypar by getting out of my wagon into some 

 place of concealment, when I observe a flock in the distance on the ground, 

 and letting my companion drive around the other side and start them toward 

 me. Long familiarity with the ground, enables me to form some idea as to 

 what course they are likely to pursue, and I have obtained more or less in 

 this manner. 



DISTRIBUTION 



Range. — North and South America; accidental in Europe. 



Breeding range. — The Hudsonian curlew is known to breed only 

 on the Arctic coast of North America from Alaska (Norton Sound, 

 Kobuk River, Cape Blossom, and probably Camden Bay) to Macken- 

 zie (Anderson Kiver region). It has, however, been noted in summer 

 in Keewatin (Fort Churchill and near York Factory) and may pos- 

 sibly breed in that vicinity. 



In common with several other shore birds, some individuals remain 

 in summer far soutii of their breeding grounds. At this season they 

 have been detected from New Jersey (Great Bay), south along the 

 Atlantic coast — Virginia (Wreck Island, Bone Island, and Wallops 

 Island) : South Carolina (Mount Pleasant) ; to Costa Rica (Coronado 

 de Terraba) ; and the West Indies (Barbuda). 



'Wi7iter range. — The winter range extends north probably to south- 

 ern California (Santa Cruz Island, Santa Barbara, and Ventura 

 County); probably rarely Louisiana; and rarely (formerly more 

 commonly) South Carolina (Bullj^ard Sound and probably Charles- 

 ton). East to formerly South Carolina (probably Charleston, Sea 

 Islands, and Frogmore) ; probably rarely Florida (Pine Island) ; 

 probably Cuba; probably rarely Porto Rico (Gundlach) ; the Lesser 

 Antilles (Barbuda) ; Guiana (Berbice River and Cayenne) ; Brazil 

 (Praia de Cajetuba) ; and Chile (Island of Chiloe). South to Chile 

 (Island of Chiloe). West to Chile (Island of Chiloe, Valdivia, Val- 

 paraiso, and Tarapaca) ; Peru (Lima, Trujillo, and Tumbez) ; Ecua- 

 dor (Bay of Santa Elena) : Galapagos Islands (Charles and Nar- 

 borough Islands) ; Venezuela (Isla de Aves) ; Costa Rica; Honduras 

 (Gulf of Fonseca) ; Guatemala (Chiapam) ; Clipperton Island; 

 Chiapas (San Benito) ; Jalisco (La Barca) ; Sinaloa (Mazatlan) ; 



