HUDSONIAN CUELEJV 445 



When the Curlew first arrive in the fall in their winter home, 

 or when they have been feeding along the seashore, their tlesh is not 

 considered to be ver}^ palatable ; but inland, where they feed on worms, 

 insects and the like, it takes on a very fine flavor and the birds fatten 

 considerably. It was when in this condition that they were much 

 sought after in earlier years. The fact that the flesh is dark dis- 

 counts their value in the estimate of some epicures, but the taste of 

 it leaves nothing to be desired. Two female birds taken on the 

 Alameda marsh weighed 28 and 29 ounces, respectively, so that in 

 quantity of flesh this shore bird compares Avell with the smaller duckg. 



All available accounts place the Long-billed Curlew among the 

 species of shore birds which have suffered great diminution in their 

 numbers. This is due to two causes : First, persistent .shooting through 

 too long an open season for a great many years, and with a large or 

 uncontrolled bag limit, and second, restriction of its relatively south- 

 ern breeding range by the advances of agriculture and stock raising. 

 Among the more desirable waders the Long-bill is distinctive in being 

 the only one nesting exclusively in the temperate latitudes where man 

 has taken extensive possession of the ground. Its large body, of a 

 size comparable with that of a teal, and the excellence of its flesh, 

 which is stated to compare favorably with that of any other shore 

 bird, make it an ideal game bird and entitle it to the most careful 

 consideration. After the present sorely needed closed season pre- 

 scribed by the federal government has expired, this Curlew should 

 be adequately protected by a short season and small bag limit, so that 

 it may continue in its role of benefactor, to hunter, epicure, and 

 nature-lover, in all the years to come. 



Hudsonian Curlew 



Numenius hudsonicus Latliam 



Other names — Jack; Jack Curlew; Short-billed Curlew; Curve-billed Snipe. 



Description — Adults and immatures, both sexes : Top and back of head 

 abruptly dark brown, divided along mid-line by narrow stripe of white or buflfy; 

 stripe from side of bill running over eye, whitish, with or without narrow 

 dark brown streaking; another stripe, running from bill through eye to ear 

 region, below the one just described, dark brown; eyelids white; side of head 

 below and behind eye, and whole neck, buff streaked with dark brown; chin 

 and fore part of throat, pure white; bill blackish, shading to light brownish 

 on basal third of lower mandible; iris brown; back, scapulars, rump, tertials 

 and outer surface of closed wing, mixed light and dark brown, the lighter 

 color appearing as marginal spots on the feathers, and many of the feathers 

 having dark shaft streaks; upper tail coverts and tail, barred light and dark 

 brown, in effect not much different from back; outer primaries, blackish brown, 

 outermost one with ivory white shaft; inner ones and secondaries, barred with 

 lighter shades of brown and buff; under coverts of wing, and axillars, irre- 



