A REMARKABLE GROWTH 



ON THE BILL OF A CUULEW 

 {NUMENIUS ARQUATUS) 



L' R.-W. SHUFELDT, C. M. Z. S. 



Washington, D. C. (U. S. A.). 



Recently, I have reccived from Mr. H. H. ter Meer Jr., 

 wlio is in Charge of the taxidermical department of llie 

 Leyden ]\hiseiim (Leyden, Holland), a photograph (life 

 size)of the head of a specimen of the common Gurlew of 

 Europe, — Niimenius arqualus of science. This bird was 

 found dead in a kitchen-garden on the island of Texel on 

 thenorth coastof Holland, sometimeduring the yearl899, 

 and was sent to Mr. ter Meer Jr. who mounted the spe- 

 cimen. What is remarkable abont this Curlew is that it 

 hadattached to the superior aspect of the uppermandible, 

 its proximal moiety, a peculiar growlh of an ovoid form, 

 larger than the bird's head (see figure). This tumour was 

 covered by the same horny integument as encased the 

 mandibles, and upon being opened, the growth was seen 

 to contain a patliological tissue of a salmoncolour, that 

 the examiner does not scem to have diagnosed histolo- 

 gically. 



jNlr. ter Meer seemcd to think it might possibly have 

 been duc lo an old shot wonnd, but he does notmention 

 havingfonnd tlie missile. The specimen was greatly ema- 

 ciated, a condition doublly caused by the bird bcing 

 imable to see the apex of its beak, and consequently 



