56 NEW ZEALAXI) BIRDS. 



and the New Hebrides, and its range doubtless extends much further; 

 but it has never yet been met witli in India, this beins" ])n)bal)ly too 



far west of its annual course 



" The habits of this species are in no respect different from those 

 of its European ally. As already stated, it is migratory, and towards 

 the end of March or beginning of April large flocks may be seen at 

 the far north taking their departure from our country. Rising from 

 the beach in a long line and with much clamour, they form into a 

 broad semicircle, and, mounting high in the air, generally take a 

 course due north : sometimes they rise in a confused manner, and, 

 after circling about at a considerable height in the air, return to the 

 beach to reform, as it were, their ranks, and then make a fresh start 

 on their distant pilgrimage. The departure from any fixed locality 

 usually begins on almost the exact date year after year ; and for a 

 week or ten days after the migration has commenced fresh parties 

 are constantly on the wing, the flight generally taking place about 

 sunset, and sometimes after dark. The flocks begin to reappear at 

 the north early in November, and then rapidly disperse along the 



coast. ^^ BULLER. 



NuMENius. Latliam. 



Bill, long, slender, and curved from the base ; nostrils, basal, lateral, placed in a 

 groove and covered by a membrane ; wings, long and pointed, with first quiU longest ; 

 tarsi, longer than middle toe, slender, and covered in front with narrow transverse scales ; 

 hind toe, long, slender, and partly resting on the ground. 



76. Numenius cyanopus. Vieill. 



Atjstealian Curlew. 



Crown of head and back of neck blackish-brown, each feather margined with buff; 

 back and wings, blackish-brown, the featlicrs margined with bulf and greyish-white ; rump 

 and tail brown, the former barred with grey and tlie latter with dark brown ; sides of face, 

 throat, and under-surface pale bufl', with a line of brown down the centre of each feather ; 

 bill, flesh-colour, becoming brown at the tip ; legs, lead-colour. 



L., 29 ; W., 12 ; B., 8 ; T., 35. 



Hal. — Australia, Tasmania, and the islands of Bass's Straits. Several occurrences in 

 New Zealand. 



77. Numenius uropygialis. QouJd. 



Australian Whimbeel. 



Crown of head, brown, with light stripe down each feather; lores, and line behind eye, 

 brown; line over eye, neck, and breast, bufly-whife with brown line down each feather; 

 upper surface dark olive, feathers spotted on their margins with buif, lighter on the wing- 

 coverts ; rump and upper tail-coverts barred with brown and while ; bill, dark liorn-colour ; 

 feet, greyish-black. 



L., 15 ; W., 875 ; B., 2-4 ; T., 2-2. 



E.ab. — Australia and Tasmania. A single occurrence in New Zealand recorded.* 



* Transactions N.Z. Institute, Vol. VII., p. 224. 



