LONG-BILLED CURLEW 443 



tion of it, which is swampy, they appeared to be numerous, eggs and 

 nests being abundant. The nests are built of dry grass, placed in a 

 hollow previously made in the dry ground. The nests usually con- 

 tain four eggs, nicely arranged, with the pointed end toward the 

 center." One nest, with three eggs, was preserved; but it is stated 

 that all the nests when found, contained four eggs. This set of three 

 eggs (now no. 3382 U. S. National Museum) measures 2.59 to 2.66 

 by 1.71 to 1.77, and averages 2.62 by 1.74, being thus slightly shorter 

 than the eggs described below. The ground color of this set is olive 

 buff, with rather small and well scattered spots and scrawls of dark 

 olive brown and deeper-lying ones of pale mouse gray. 



The eggs, which in completed sets are almost invariably four in 

 number, are pear-shaped and measure in inches, 2.42 to 2.70 by 1.82 to 

 2.00 (average of two sets, eight eggs, from Montana). The ground- 

 color is light greenish olive of various shades, and the superficial spots 

 are of dark umber, chocolate and blackish (Silloway, 1900, pp. 80, 

 82) ; there are also deeper and duller markings. From the eggs of 

 the Willet, which those of the Long-bill most closely resemble, the 

 latter may be distinguished by larger size, being one-third of an inch 

 longer, and by their being more pear-shaped, that is, more tapered 

 toward the small end (Davie, 1900, p. 151). 



Silloway (1900, pp. 79-82) says of the Long-billed Curlew on its 

 breeding grounds in central Montana: 



After their arrival, the curlews inhabit the high, dry prairies, flying 

 restlessh' from one portion to another, showing a tendency to associate in 

 I-airs, though as couples, these birds are not inseparable. In the mating season, 

 one of the pair is likely to follow the other in a few moments, when the first 

 bird has flown far over the prairie to a more distant station. At any time the 

 loud, prolonged whistling of these birds, either when on the ground or a-wing, 

 will call attention to their movements, warning the disturber of their domain 

 that his presence is known and that his actions will be watched with the 

 closest interest. 



At times a pair will sail 



. . . upward in company a-breast of the wind, moving in perfect accord 

 on wide-spread, motionless pinions curved gently downward, within several 

 feet of each other, then fluttering downward side by side or one in advance 

 of the other, again to sail upward, uttering the characteristic whistles. 



This whistle has been compared to the squeaking of brakes on a 

 freight train. At times these birds will attack certain of the hawks 

 and are themselves molested by attacks from some of the smaller 

 perching birds. 



When an intruder approaches the vicinity of the nest the male 

 will fly directly toward him and swerve upward only in time to prevent 

 a collision. This habit of the male can be used to advantage in 



