NUMENIN^. 683 



This neat plumaged little Sandpiper is not very abundant in 

 the South of India, but is met with more frequently towards the 

 North ; it frequents the shores of seas, back waters, tanks and 

 rivers, in small flocks. In summer plumage the scapulars become 

 black, edged with brown. It breeds in Northern Asia, laying 

 four pale olive-yellow eggs with brown spots. It is extensively 

 distributed over Europe, and Asia to Australia. 



Bonaparte places next TereMa., Anarhynchus frontalis^ Q. and 

 G., a very curious small bird with a short slightly up-turned bill ; 

 but, as previously noticed, I am inclined, ( simply however, from 

 inspection of a drawing, ) to refer this bird to the group of Plovers 

 comprising the Tumstone, vide page 656. 



Sub-fam. NuMENiN^, Curlews. 



Bill very long, curved downwards. 



The Curlews differ from the Godwits, and also from the 

 Tringince, in their curved beaks, and the summer plumage not 

 varying from the winter garb. 



Gen. NuMENius, Linnaeus. 



Char. — Bill very long, moderately slender, curved, almost 

 round ; upper mandible channeled, the tip hard, obtuse, slightly 

 produced beyond the lower ; nostrils basal, linear, apert ; wings 

 moderately long, the 1st quill longest ; tail short, even, or slightly 

 rounded ; tarsus moderately long, scutate inferiorly ; anterior 

 toes short, basally connected by web, and bordered by a narrow 

 membrane ; hind toe short, with the nail rudimentary. 



877. Numenius arquata, Linn^us. 



Jerdon, Cat. 357 — Blyth, Cat. 1590-— Gould, Birds of 

 Europe, pi. — Goar or Goungh, H. — Choppa, Beng. — also Sada 

 kastachura, Beng. 



The Curlew. 



Descr. — Head, neck, and breast pale ashy, tinged with rufous, 

 the shafts- and middle of the feathers dusky; upper back and 



