247 



Numenius arqnata. The Curlew. 



Numenius arqnata^ TAn. ; p. ^. 818 ; Gould. B. Eur. pi. 302 ; Jerd, 

 B. hid. iii. 683; SStr. F. i. 237; Murray, Hdbk., Zool, Sfc, Sind, 

 p. 217.— The Curlew. 



Head, neck behind and in front, also the breast rufescent ashy, or 

 rufescent grey brown, the feathers with dark mesial longitudiual 

 shaft- streaks; upper back and scapulars varying from dusky to dark 

 brown, the feathers broadly edged fulvous or pale rufous ; upper 

 abdomen white, the feathers with dusky shaft-streaks; lower abdomen, 

 vent and under tail-coverts pure white; lower back white; rump and 

 upper tail-coverts also white, with dark shafts ; tail fulvous white with 

 transverse brown bars ; chin and throat white, also a snaall space 

 above the eye in some specimens ; first five primaries and edge of 

 wing dark brown, their inner webs mottled with white; secondaries 

 dusky brown with transverse white bars on both webs half across only, 

 the dark mai-kiugs forming a rude saw, the edges and tips of the 

 feathers white. 



Length..— 21 to 26 inches, wing 12 to 12-5, tail 4-5, bill at front 

 5 to 7'25, irides dark brown, legs and feet bluish grey. 



Hah. — Throughout most parts of Europe, India, N. Africa, Egypt, 

 Abyssinia and Palestine. Common along the sea coast and back 

 waters in great numbei's during winter, also along the banks of the 

 Indus and Punjab rivers, and on all large inland sheets of water. 



Numenius phseopUS, Lin. ,- P. E. 842; Gould. B. Eur. pi. 303; 

 Jerd. B. lud. iii. 684 ; Sir. F. ii. 297 ; Murray, Hdbk., ZooL, Sfc, 

 Sind, p. 217. — The Whimbbel. 



Forehead and crown dusky brown with a mesial longitudinal streak ; 

 lores dark brown; superciliary stripe white, extending from the upper 



