332 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1915. 



ber 3, 1863, on Cape Cod, several gunners killed 281 Eskimo curlew 

 and golden plover in one day.^ 



A few birds occurred on the Massachusetts coast in 1866, 1867, 

 1868, 1869, and 1870, but none in 1864, 1865, and 1871.^ In 1872 

 there were two flights, and the birds were killed in such numbers 

 that two market gunners sold $300 Avorth and boys offered the birds 

 for sale at 6 cents apiece.^ There were some birds in 1873, 1875, 

 and 1876, but none in 1874, while in 1877 there was a flight and in 

 1878 a smaller flight.- In 1879 there were no birds, but the next 

 three years there were some ; in 1882 two hunters on Nantucket shot 

 87 Eskimo curlew in one morning, while at about the same time 

 another hunter on Marthas Vineyard killed about 70 of them.^ In 

 1883 tliere was a large flight Augus^, 26,^ while on August 30 of that 

 year the last great flight of Eskimo curlew and golden plover 

 occurred on Cape Cod.* There w^ere a few birds in 1884, 1885, 1886, 

 and 1887, a number in 1888 and 1889, again a few birds in 1890, 1891, 

 and 1892, while in 1893 a single bird was shot^ and another seen.^ 

 One bird was seen in the Boston market in 1894,^ two were killed 

 at Chatham in 1895,^ none were seen in 1896, eight in 1897, and two 

 in 1898.- At Chatham Beach one w^as Idlled in 1897, four in 1899, 

 and the last one on September 13, 1900.^ In 1898 one was seen a.t 

 Dennis, in 1900 one was killed at Eastham^ and in 1901 birds were 

 killed at Ipswich^ and on Prince Edward Island.^ In October, 

 1902, two were obtained in the Boston market and one of them came 

 from Massachusetts.^ In 1908 two were shot at Newburyport, Mas- 

 sachusetts, August 27, and one of them was saved.*^ 



In New York State the Eskimo curlew was seen or taken on Long 

 Island every j^ear except 1888 from 1885 to 1891 ; the last record for 

 that State being about 1890.^ In early days there were flights of 

 many thousands of these birds on Long Island, where they were 

 known as " Futes," at long intervals during heavy easterly storms, 

 but not in recent years.^ In 12 years this bird was met with onh'' 

 four times by N. T. Lawrence, viz, September 12, 1875, September 10, 

 1876, and September 26, 1884, two on tlie latter date.^ In Maine a 

 female was shot at Pine Point September 23, 1901, and two were 

 shot at Hog Island, Hancock County, in September, 1909 — one on 

 the 2d and one on the 14th — both specimens being preserved.^'' ^ 



1 Hapgood, W. Forest and Stream series No. 1, Shore Birds, pp. 17 and 22-23, 1885. 

 2Mackay, G. U. Auk, 9, pp. 10-21, 1S92 ; 10, p. 79, 189.3; 11, pp. 7.5-76, 1894; 14, 

 p. 214, 1897; 15, pp. 52-53, 1898; and 16, p. ISO, 1899. 



3 Forbusii, E. H. Game Birds, Wildfowl and Shorebirds, pp. 416-432, 1912. 



* .lob, H. K. Wild Wings, pp. 207-208, 1905. 



^Townsend, C. W. Birds of Essex County. 



« Mayer, J. E. Auk, 20, p. 77, 1909. 



' Eaton, E. II. Birds of New York, 1, p. .342, 1910. 



*Braislin, W. C. Troc. Linnaean Soc. New York, p. 64, 1907. 



» Lawrence, N. T. Auk, 2, p. 273, 1885. 



'"Knight, O. W. Auk, 27, p. 79, 1910. 



