BIRDS—SCOLOPACIDAE—NUMENIUS LONGIROSTRIS. 743 
Numenius, Linn. 
NUMENIUS LONGIROSTRIS, Wilson. 
Long-billed Curlew. 
Scolopax arquata, var. 3, GMELIN, I, 1788, 656. 
Numenius arquata, var. B. Laruam, Ind. II, 1790, 710. 
Numenius longirostris, W1tson, Am. Orn. VIII, 1814, 24; pl. lxiv.—Bon. Obs. 1825, No. 200.—Sw. F. B. A. IT, 1831 
376.—Nourtr. Man. II, 1834, 88.—Aup. Orn. Biog. III, 1835, 240: V, 587; pl. 231.—In. Birds 
Am. VI, 1848, 35; pl. 355, 
“* Numenius melanopus, Virittor, Nouv. Dict.” 
Numenius rufus, Vier.or, Galerie, IT, 1825, 118; pl. 245. 
“© Numenius brasiliensis, WrEp.”’ 
? Numenius occidentalis, Woopuovusk, Pr. A. N. Se. VI, Nov. 1852, 194.—In. Sitgreaves’ Expl. Zuni & Col. 1853, 98; pl. vi 
Sp. Cu —The largest American species of this genus. Bill very long, much curved; upper mandible longer than the under 
somewhat knobbed at the tip; wing rather long; legs moderate; toes united at base. Entire upper parts pale rufous, tinged 
with ashy; every feather with transverse and confluent bands of brownish black, most numerous and predominating on the back 
and seapulars; secondary quills, under wing coverts, and axillaries, bright rufous; primaries with their outer webs brownish 
black and their inner webs rufous, with transverse bands of black. Under parts pale rufous, with longitudinal lines of black on 
the neck and sides; tail rufous, tinged with ashy, transversely barred with brownish black. Bill brownish black; base of under 
mandible reddish yellow, legs bluish brown. Specimens vary to some extent in the shade of the rufous color of the plumage, 
and very much in the length of the bill. The rufous color is probably more distinct in the young. Total length about 25 inches ; 
wing, 10 to 11; tail, 4; bill, 5 to 8; tarsus, 24 inches. 
Hub.—The entire temperate regions of North America. 
Numerous specimens in the collection of the expeditions attest the abundance of this fine 
bird throughout every part of the United States. 
This bird appears to vary in size quite materially, and in the length of bill in different 
specimens, so much so as to be quite perplexing. In fact, the bills of scarcely any two 
specimens are of the same length. In color, also, there is considerable variety, but the species 
can readily be distinguished. 
There are in the present collection specimens which are undoubtedly WN. occidentalis, Wood- 
house, as above cited, and it is not without doubts that we do not at present give it as a distinct 
species. The clear rufous of the plumage and the shorter bill, as given by Dr. Woodhouse, are 
present in these specimens, and, without a series of intermediate specimens, would appear to be 
quite conclusive characters specifically. In the present collection, however, almost any length 
of bill can be produced, and the rufous color is very probably characteristic of young age. It 
is quite possible, though, that more than one species may yet be determined. 
List of specimens.? 
Catal. | Locality. | When col- | Whence obtained. 
No. | lected. 
2 a 
462 | INC Wie OL Kee ee eee eee ee see cee 1841 Sune Bairdine 2 oe sen Coes os ooo e eee 
} The list of specimens from the collections of the exploring expeditions having been mislaid, is not given here. 
