142 EEPOET OF NEW JEESEY STATE MUSEUM. 



266 Numenius borealis (Forster). 

 Eskimo Curlew. 



Adults.— ILength, 12.50-14.50. Wing, 8-8.50. Differs from the Hudsonian 

 Curlew in smaller size and in having V-shaped marks on the under parts in- 

 stead of narrow streaks. The head, too, is uniformally streaked, with no light 

 median stripe as in the other species. Inner webs of quills uniform dusky, 

 which at once distinguishes it from the preceding in which they are barred. 



Formerly a "rather rare transient in May and September" (Turn- 

 bull, 1869) ; now apparently almost extinct. 



Wilson was not acquainted with this species, the bird he called 

 "Eskimo Curlew" being the Hudsonian Curlew, as long ago pointed 

 out by Bonaparte. Nevertheless, both Nuttall and apparently Dr. C. 

 C. Abbott have quoted Wilson's remarks as applying to this species. 



The only definite information regarding the occurrence of the 

 Eskimo Curlew in New Jersey is Bonaparte's statement that he had 

 "occasionally met with it in the markets of New York and Philadel- 

 phia, though in the middle States it is by no means common." 



Family OHARADRIIDiE. 



The Plovers. 



Close allies of the Snipe and Sandpipers, but with short bills, and 

 usually with the hind toe lacking. 



a. Upper parts speckled. 



b. A small rudimentary hind toe. Black-bellied Plover, p. 143 



bb. No hind toe. GoldejN- Plover, p. 143 



aa. Upper parts plain. 



b. Two black bands on breast. Killdeer, p. 144 



bb. One breast band or merely a blotch on each side of the chest, black or 

 gray. 

 c. Deep grayish-brown above. 



d. Bill, .50-.55. Semipalmated Plover, p. 145 



dd. Bill, .80. Wilson's Plover, p. 146 



cc. Pale brownish-gray above. Piping Plover, p. 145 



