SCOLOPACIDAZ—CURLEWS. 275 
Adult Female : Differs from the male in its larger size 
only, which is especially noticeable in the bill. 
Young in first plumage: More rufous above than adults, 
and the scapular and innermost secondary markings have more 
tendency to take the form of bars; beneath much more buff 
and more copiously marked. 
Young in down: Have a perfectly straight bill. 
Distribution : Summer visitant to Northern Europe, occur- 
ring throughout the central and southern portions on migra- 
tion. Winters in Africa. 
Habitat: Vast heathy commons and high moors, retiring to 
the sea-coast in autumn. 
WHIMBREL. 
Numenius phzopus (Zzuz.). 
Adult: Crown dark brown with a mesial band of greytsh- 
white ; pale markings on the back and wings, margins of neck- 
feathers and superciliary stripe dull greyish or greyish-brown ; 
tail pale brown, barred with darker brown; axillaries strongly 
barred with brown; plumage otherwise much as in JV. arqguata; 
bill (decurved) dark brown, paler at the base beneath ; legs and 
feet dull slate-grey ; irides hazel-brown. Length about 17 
inches ; culmen 3; wing 325 to 9; tarsus 2°2. 
Female larger, otherwise similar to the male. 
Young in first plumage: Mantle, scapulars, innermost 
secondaries and wing-coverts marked with buff instead of grey- 
ish ; rump distinctly streaked with brown. 
Distribution: Breeds in Arctic Europe, migrating in 
autumn to South Africa, Madagascar and the Indian region. 
Habitat: Very similar to that of WV. arguata. 
SLENDPER-BILLED CURLEW. 
Numenius tenuirostris Mzez//. 
Adult: “ Very similar in plumage to JV. avguata, but much 
smaller and more mealy looking. The chest is white,-and the 
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