130 BULLETIN 146;, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



fat. In this condition they are most delicious eating, being tender, .iuicy, and 

 finely flavored; but, as might be expected, they prove a very difficult job for 

 the taxidermist. 



Behavior. — Liicien M. Turner gives, in his Ungava notes, a vivid 

 description of a large flock of Eskimo curlews, which I quote, as 

 follows : 



I saw none until the morning of the 4th of September, 1884, as we were pass- 

 ing out from the mouth of the Koksoak River. Here an immense flock of 

 several hundred individuals were making their way to the south. They flew 

 in that peculiar manner which distinguishes the curlews from all other birds 

 in flight, a sort of wedge shape, the sides of which were constantly swaying 

 back and forth like a cloud of smoke wafted by the lightest zepher. The 

 aerial evolutions of the curlews when migrating are, perhaps, one of the most 

 wonderful in the flight of birds. Long, dangling lines, either perpendicular or 

 horizontal, the lower parts of which whirl, rise, or twist spirally, while the 

 apex of the flock is seemingly at rest. At other times the leader plunges down- 

 ward successively followed by the remainder in most graceful undulations, be- 

 coming a dense mass then separating into a thin sheet spread wide ; again 

 reforming into such a variety of positions that no description would sufiice. 



Mr. Mackay (1892c) says: 



Of those I have observed in New England during a series of years I may 

 say that most of their habits closely resemble those of the golden plover. In 

 migTation they fly in much the same manner, with extended and broadside and 

 triangular lines and clusters similar to those of ducks and geese at such 

 times. They usually fly low after landing, sweeping slowly over the ground, 

 apparently looking it over, generally standing motionless for quite a little while 

 after alighting, which, owing to their general color approximating so closely 

 to the withered grass, renders it difficult at times to perceive them. I have had 

 a flock of 50 or 60 alight within 30 yards of me, and have been unable to make 

 out more tlian two or three birds. If disturbed they will frequently alight again 

 at no great distance, if not previously harassed, and under the same conditions 

 they can be approached at all times, for they are either very tame or very 

 shy. They seek out and are found in the same localities selected by the golden 

 plover with which they generally associate if any are in the vicinity, there 

 always being a strong friendship between them. They are not soi active as 

 the plover ; on the ground they appear less inclined to move about, especially 

 after landing and during rainy weather when I have at times noticed them 

 standing on the ground quite close together, every bird headed to the wind, 

 with heads and necks drawn down and resting on their backs, with the rain 

 running off their tails. At such times they could be approached on foot to 

 within half a gunshot, showing little fear. 



Doctor Coues (1874) writes: 



The curlews associate in flocks of every size, from three to as many thousand, 

 but they generally fly in so loose and straggling a manner that it is rare to 

 kill more than half a dozen at a shot. When they wheel, however, in any of 

 their many beautiful evolutions, they close together in a more compact body, 

 and offer a more favorable opportunity to the gunner. Their flight is firm, 

 direct, very swift, when necessary much protracted, and is performed N\ith 

 regular, rapid beats. They never sail, except Avhen about to alight, when the 

 wings are much incurved downward, in the manner of most waders. As their 



