236 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OP 



NtTMENius (Phaeopus) BOREA.LIS (Forst.) Lath. — Esquimaux Curlew. "The 



Clew." 

 Numenius borealis, Aud. Birds Amer., vi. 45, pi. 357. Cassin, Gen. Rep. 744. 



From the time of my first arrival in the countrj until the second week in 

 August, the stereotyped reply of the inhabitants to my inquiries concerning 

 game wa«, "There is nothing to shoot yet, sir ; the C'lewi have not yet ar- 

 rived ; but when tliey come you will have fine sport." All were agreed as to 

 the abundance of the birds, the facility with which they could be obtained, 

 the sport of killing them, and their delicacy on the table. Naturally enough, 

 ■when disappointed in procuring other birds, our thouglits turned to the Cur- 

 lews, and we endeavored to console ourselves by shooting them in anticipa- 

 tion. It was not, however, until the 16th of August, when in the romantic 

 harbor of " Indian Tickle," that we obtained the first glimpse of the Curlews. 

 Five days later, at Henley Harbor, our sport commenced ; the Curlews were 

 there in immense numbers, and for nearly two weeks we all enjoyed such 

 sport as almost made us forget our disappointments ami hardships on the 

 dreary Labrador coast. The Curlews then disappeared as suddenly as they 

 had arrived ; not, however, until I had had ample opportunities of studying 

 their habits, and had procured a sufficient number of specimens. 



The Esquimaux Curlew arrived on the Labrador coast from its more northern 

 breeding grounds in immense numbers, flying very swiftly in flocks of great ex- 

 tent. These immediately broke up into smaller companies, and proceeded at 

 once in search of food. They remained but a very short time. As Audubon most 

 correctly says, "I was not long in discovering that their stay on this coast 

 was occasioned solely by the density of the mists, and the heavy gales that 

 already gave intimation of the approaching close of the summer ; for whenever 

 the weather cleared up a little, thousands of them set off and steered in a 

 straight course across the broad Gulf of St. Lawrence. On the contrary, when 

 the wind was high and the fogs thick, they flew swiftly and low over the rocky 

 surface of the country, as if bewildered. Wherever there was a spot that 

 seemed likely to afford a supply of food, there the Curlews abounded and were 

 easily approached." His observations, however, differ much from mine, in 

 reference to the time of the arrival and departure of the birds. He states that 

 they made their first appearance on the 29th of July, and had all left by the 

 12th of August ; whereas, I saw none until about that latter date, and none 

 were to be seen on the first of September. For two or three days before their 

 final departure, we had noticed them all moving directly southward, flying 

 very high in the air in loose straggling flocks, with a broad extended front. 



The Curlews associate in flocks of every size, from three to as many thou- 

 sands, but they generally fly in so loose and straggling a manner, that it is 

 rare to kill more than half a dozen at a shot. When they wheel, however, in 

 any of their many beautiful evolutions, they close together in a more compact 

 body, and offer a more favorable opportunity for the gunner. Their flight is 

 firm, direct, very swift, when necessary much protracted, and is performed 

 with rapid regular beats. They never sail except when about to alight ; then 

 the wings are much incurved downwards, in the manner of most Waders. As 

 their feet touch the ground their long, pointed wings are raised over the back 

 until the tips almost touch, and then deliberately folded, much in the manner 

 of the Solitary Sandpiper, Rhyacophilus solitarius. Their note is an oft-re- 

 peated, soft, mellow, though clear whistle, which may be easily imitated. By 

 this means they can readily be decoyed within shot, if the imitation is good 

 aud the gunner is careful to keep concealed. The smaller the flock, the more 

 easily are they allured, and a single individual rarely fails to turn his course 

 toward the spot from whence the sound proceeds. When in very extensive 

 flocks they have a note which, when uttered by the whole number, I can 

 compare to nothing but the chattering of a flock of blackbirds. When 

 wounded and taken in hand, they emit a very loud harsh scream, like that 



[Aug. 



