210 NL'MEyiUS BOREALlsr. 



ISrUMENITJS BOREALIS. 

 Esquimaux Cui'lew. 



Numeriius Imrcalh Latii., Irid. Orn. II; 1790, 712. 

 DESCKIF'TIOX. 

 Si'. Cii. Furm, vcibust. Size, «uraU. T-iU, liiit little lunger than head. Tongue, short, thin, and gradually taper- 

 ing toward tip wliich i^; acutely pointed. 



Coi.oit. Adult. AboTe, dark-brown, slrcaked on lu-ad and ncek. spotted on liaek, and banded on rump upper tail cov- 

 erts and tail, witli ashy-yellow. Primaries, brown, without lianling.s on eitlier web. Beneath, ashy-yellow, becoming 

 nxldis'i under wings, streaked on- neck and breast and banded on «ides and flanks witli dark-brown. 



Youiii/. Siuular to the adult but paler and the markings are not as well defined. Bill, brown, yellow at base of lower 

 mandible, iris and leg«, brown, Lu all stages. 



OBSERVATIONS. 

 Known from all others by the small size, curved bill, absence of bands on primaries, ami colors as described Distrib- 

 uted, in summer throui'liout Arctic America. Comuion in autumn on the coast of the Northern States. Winters south 

 of tiic United States. 



DLMENSIONS. 

 Average measurements of speoimens from Kastern North America. Length, 13-50; stretcli, 26-50; wing, 8-25; tail, 2-75; 

 bill, 2-2J; tarsus, 1-50. Longest specimen, 1 l-OO; greatest extent of wing, 27-00; longest wing, 8-50; tail, 3-00; bill, 2-50; 

 t;irsus, 1-75. Shortest specimen, 13-00;smaHestestent of wing, 26-00; shortest wing, 8-00; tail, :i-50; bill, 200; tarsus, 1-25. 



DCSCRIPTIOX OF NESTS AND EGGS. 

 Eijij'i, ])lacoilon the ground in a slight depression of the soil, on a little grass, etc. They are from two to four in num- 

 ber, ratiier ovnl in firm, varying from yellowish-ash t3 greanish-brown in color, spotted and blotclied coarsely with brown 

 and uidxr of varying shades. Dimcasions from l-riOxltJOto 1-45x2-00. 



HABITS. 

 Tho Dougli Bird, iis the Esquimaux Curlew.s are almost universally called, are eager- 

 ly sought aCt(_T ail 1, coiisequeutly, bring a high price in the market. In autumn, they 

 arc very lat and are eonsideiXMl fine eating, being far superior to either of the other species, 

 the flesh of which is apt to be strong and dry. During certain seasons, when a severe 

 storm occurs about the middle of September, at which time these birds are migrating, they 

 are driven in from the sea in large flocks. Then the hill-tops are fairly covered with them 

 and in years past, gunners would frequently reap a rich harvest, but of late years, although 

 they occasionally appear in quantities, they never remain long, for they are quickly driv- 

 en away by the numerous sportsmen who are constantly on the lookout for them. The 

 Es(|uim;tu>: Curlews feed upon berries and insects, especiall}' grasshoppers which they fincL 

 in quantities on the hills. 



