BIRDS OF ESSEX COUNTY. I 89 



By observing these points the bird cannot be mistaken. The conspicuous 

 white line on the wings, and the dark tail feathers distinguish it from the 

 Solitary Sandpiper. 



121 [264] Numenius longirostris Wils. 

 Long- billed Curlew ; "Sickle-bill"; "Hen Curlew." 



Very rare or accidental transient visitor. 



Formerly, or before 1870, the Long-billed Curlew was not uncommon. 

 Putnam J lists it as "rather rare" ; Maynard 2 says : " Not uncommon during the 

 migrations, but very shy ; but few shot on this account." He tells me that he 

 often used to see them, and hear their loud "scream." Mr. T. C. Wilson, for 

 thirty years a professional gunner at Ipswich, tells me he has never seen the 

 bird. There is a specimen in the Peabody Academy collection from Essex 

 County, labeled 1855, S. Jillson. There is also a specimen in the Brookline 

 High School collection, from Ipswich, taken on October 18th, 1884. This is 

 the latest authentic record I have. 



It is not uncommon for gunners or even ornithologists to imagine they have 

 secured a "Sickle-bill," when they obtain an old female Hudsonian Curlew, for 

 in the latter the bill is sometimes four inches long, or longer than that of the 

 young male " Sickle-bill." A number of these I have traced and found the 

 bird to be in all instances the Hudsonian Curlew. 



The strong rufous coloration of the Long-billed Curlew, especially below 

 and on the under surface of the wings, at once distinguishes it from the Hudson- 

 ian Curlew. I have been told that the bird looks in life as brown as some 

 varieties of hens and hence the name " Hen Curlew." 



122 [265] Numenius hudsonicus Lath. 

 Hudsonian Curlew; "Jack Curlew." 



Rare spring, not uncommon autumn transient visitor ; May 24 to May 30 

 July 6 to September 17. 



1 F. W. Putnam: Proc. Essex Inst., vol. I, p. 218, 1856. 

 2 C. J. Maynard: The Naturalist's Guide, p. 142, 1870. 



