SOOLOPACID.E — THE H.MPE FAMILY. 73 



sides, flanks, and crissum with V-shaped markings of dusky brown; axillars and lininK of 

 the wing pale cinnamon, the former narrowly barred with dusky. Upper parts spotted 

 dusky and bulT, the wing-coverts more grayish brown, with dusky shaft- streaks; primaries , 

 including thoir inner webs, plain brownish dusky. Rump and upper tail-ooverts spotted 

 dusky and light bulT. Tail brownish gray, barred with dusky. 



In plumage, this little Curlew closely resembles iV. Iiiidsonicns, but has the inner webs 

 of the primaries either plain dusky or else finely and confusedly mottled, instead of being 

 marked with very distin>.'t and regular ochraceous spots; the breast with transverse 

 V-shapeil markings instead of linear, longitudinal streaks, while there are other differen- 

 ces, besides the important one of size, which serve to readily distinguish them. 



The Little Curlew or "Douf;li Bird" is of rather common oc- 

 currence in Illinois during the migrations, arriving, according 

 to Mr. Nelson, a little later than ^. hiulsonlciin, passing north 

 with short delay, and returning the last of September and in 

 October. While lingering with us it frequents chiefly the wet 

 prairies, in company with the Golden Plover. 



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