NUMENIUS TENUIROSTEIS 341 



the market of that town. Von Erlanger records having met with it 

 in autumn near Gabes, and on the small island of Kuais. 



The Whimbrel occurs in Algeria and Marocco as a winter visitor, 

 and seems to be plentiful in the latter country during the periods of 

 passage. 



Its range is very extensive, and appears to embrace the whole or 

 greater part of Em-ope, Asia, Africa and Australia. In America it 

 is replaced by N. hudsonicus. 



In its habits this species resembles the Curlew, and like that bird, 

 is to be found, as a rule, in flocks, frequenting the sea-coast, specially 

 open expanses and mud-flats, during the colder months and on 

 passage. Its migration, like that of its allies, appears to be effected 

 chiefly during the night. On arrival the birds are not very shy, 

 differing in this respect from the Curlew, but should they be much 

 disturbed, they soon become wary. 



The flight of this species is quicker than that of its larger congener, 

 and usually much closer to the ground ; but when actually on passage, 

 the bird flies at a considerable altitude. Its note is a clear loud 

 whistle, repeated several times, not unlike that of the Curlew, but 

 uttered in a higher key. 



Its food consists largely of crustaceans, as well as of insects and 

 their larvae, worms, and to a certain extent also of vegetable matter. 



NUMENIUS TENUIROSTRIS, Vieillot. 

 SLENDEE-BILLED CUELEW. 



Numenius tenuirostris, Vieill. Nouv. Diet, viii, p. 302 (1817) ; Malherbc, 

 Faune Orn. de I'Alg. p. 31 (1855) ; Loche, Expl. Sci. Alg. Ois. 11, p. 335 

 (1867) ; Koenig, J. /. 0. 1888, p. 265 ; id. J. f. 0. 1893, p. 79 ; Sharpe, 

 Cat. Birds Brit. Mas. sxiv, p. 348. 



Description. — Adult male, winter, from North Tunisia. 



Above pale greyish-brown, thickly striped with blackish-brown; rump 

 and upper tail-coverts white, with a few blackish drop spots ; tail white, 

 barred with blackish-brown ; lores, superciliaries and chin white ; throat, 

 neck and upper breast whitish, faintly tinged with buff, and striped with 

 brown ; lower breast, upper abdomen and flanks pure white, with blackish 

 drop spots ; rest of the under parts and axillaries pure white. 



