226 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



J. A. Allen stated that it was common in spring in western Iowa, 

 and doubtless bred about the marshes (Mem. Bost. Soc, i, 1868, 

 501). T. M. Trippe says "a few seen in spring in Decatur county, 

 where I was informed that formerly it bred quite commonly" 

 (Proc. Bost. Soc, xv, 1872, 241). In 1884 the species passed 

 through central Iowa April 15, and in 1885, from April 10 to 15, 

 it was noted at Emmetsburg, Iowa, Heron Lake, Minn., etc., 

 (Cooke, Bird Migr. in Miss. Val., 1884-85, 97-8). Keyes and 

 Williams give it as "migratory, rather common. A few remain 

 during the summer and nest on the open prairies" (Birds of Iowa, 

 1889, 123). 



In early May, in the '8o's, J. W. Preston found the species nest- 

 ing in northern Iowa. He says "Lying away to the west were 

 the dim flats of Kossuth county. Not a sound, no shrubs for 

 sighing winds, the wheels rolled muffled in the prairie gra.ss. At 

 one point, where the ground lay more rolling and dryer, were 

 many Long-billed Curlews guarding their nests, and hovering 

 near the wagon, uttering that peculiar mellow whistle so charac- 

 teristic of the wild free prairie. Soon I was delighted to see- an 

 old Curlew flutter from the horses' feet, leaving the four speckled 

 eggs exposed. P'urther on a mother Curlew led her mottled 

 down}^ chicks from danger." ("Some Prairie Birds," O. & O., 

 xviii, 1893, 82). 



Dr. Trostler reports the Long-billed Curlew as a common mi- 

 grant in Pottawattamie and Mills counties. A.I.Johnson reports 

 it as a migrapt in Sioux county, northwestern Iowa, saying: "I 

 do not know of its nesting since I came to the state in 1890. 

 Have only known of them during migration, and not ver^- many 

 at that." All others who reported list the species as a rare mi- 

 grant. 



117. (265). Ni(iiiiiiii(s /iiidsoiiicus Lath. Hudsonian Curlew. 



This species is a rare migrant in Iowa. It was listed by Allen 

 (White's Geol. of Iowa, ii, 1870, 426). Cooke (Bird Migr. in 

 Mi.ss. Val., 1884-85, 98) says: "The only record received came 

 from Heron Lake, Minn., May i, 18S4." 



G. H. Berry reports it as a rare migrant in Linn county. I 

 have a female specimen of the Hudsonian Curlew in my private 

 collection, shot or. the prairie west of Crystal Lake, Hancock 



