Allen's naturalist's library. 



in. THE ESKIMO CURLEW. NUMENIUS BOREALIS. 



Numemics borealis^ Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. p. 712 (1790); Dresser, 

 B. Eur. viii. p. 221, pi. 575 (1873): B. O. U. List Brir. 

 B. p. 178 (1883); Saunders, ed. Yarrell's Brit. B. iii. 

 p. 512 (1883) ; Seebohm, Hist. Brit. B. iii. p. 94 (1885) ; 

 Saunders, Man. Brit. B. p. 615 (1889); Sharpe, Cat. B. 

 Brit. Mus. xxiv. p. 368 (1896). 



Adult Male in Breeding Plumage. — May easily be distinguished 

 by its smaller size from the two preceding species. It has a 

 longitudinal pale band down the crown like the Whimbrel, but 

 from this bird it is easily recognised by its uniform primaries, 

 which have no pale notches on the inner web, but sometinies 

 show slight indications of frecklings along the inner margin ; 

 the lower back and rump dark like the u])per back ; the lower 

 throat and chest streaked with blackish, the latter having 

 numerous sagittate markings, very distinct on the flanks; the 

 axillaries and under wing-coverts cinnamon-rufous, barred 

 with dark brown ; bill brownish-black, the lower mandible 

 flesh-colour at the base ; feet greyish-blue, claws black ; iris 

 dark brown. Total length, i3"5 inches; culmen, 2-5; wing, 

 8-6; tail, 3*2; tarsus, i-8. 



Adult Female in Breeding Plumage. — Similar to the male. Total 

 length, 14 inches; wing, 87. 



Young.— Recognised by the spotted character of the upper 

 surface, which is uniform brown, with scattered spots and 

 notches of rufous-buff on the plumage, especially on the inner- 

 most secondaries ; the streaks plentiful on the throat and neck ; 

 the chest and breast with irregular and sagittate markings of 

 dusky-brown, which are also very distinct on the sides of the 

 body. 



Range in Great Britain. — The Eskimo Curlew has occurred as 

 an accidental visitor in all three kingdoms, and the record 

 of British-killed examples amounts to some half-a-dozen 

 individuals. 



Range outside the British Islands. — The Eskimo Curlew nests 

 in Arctic America and migrates south in winter through South 

 America, even to Patngonia. 



