196 BIRDS WITH LONG, CURVED BILLS. 



CURLEW -SANDPIPER.— Form and coloiirlncr, 

 much resemblincr the Knot (plate 108), but the bill 

 in the Curlew-Sandpiper is curved. 8 inches. Head, 

 neck, and back deep rufous, sti'eaked with black ; rump 

 white ; tail dark ; under parts chestnut, Avhitish near 

 the tail ; bill slender, curved downwards ; legs duskj^- 

 gray. In wanter ashy- brown above, except towards 

 the tail, where it is white ; under parts white, with 

 fine da7-k streaks on the fore-neck. Spring and 

 autumn migrant. 



Distribution. — A spring and autumn visitor to our 

 coasts, chiefly on the eastern side of Great Britain 

 and at the latter season ; appears occasionally beside 

 inland waters. 



In spring the Curlew-Sandpiper arrives in its 

 rufous nuptial garb, and in autumn is gra^'ish, or 

 in process of changing its last remaining chestnut 

 patches. In its feeding habits it resembles Dunlins, 

 with which it associates, frequenting the shore-flats 

 in bands more or less numerous, working along the 

 tide-line at ebb, and flying in close formation, with 

 occasional flash of white as the under parts in all the 

 birds are turned simultaneously to view. 



DUNLIN — 8 inches. Lacks the strong, downwaid curve of 



the bill whicli has earned for the CwWcj^-'-Sandpiper its 



name ; lacks also its vliite rump. 

 KNOT — 10 inches. Veiy .similar to the Cnrlow-Sand piper 



both in its summer and in its winter garb, but larger, 



■with stout, straight bill. 



HOOPOE.— Plate 87. Length, 11 inches. General 

 colour of head and bod^", above and below, plain rich 

 buff, but rump and belly white ; wings with heav}' 



