444 



besides, even at the present advanced state of the science, con- 

 founded with the European, of which there are also three species, 

 which, contrary to the generally received opinion, are all and each 

 distinct from the American, (though two only are reckoned by the 

 best authorities, one of which is even referred to an American,) we 

 take this opportunity of giving phrases also for the European spe- 

 cies, thus carrying to six instead of three, the number of European 

 and North American Numenii. For a detailed description and ac- 

 count of each species, and the extrication of the almost endless 

 confusion reigning throughout the works of preceding authors, see 

 our " Monography of the genus Numenius," (ined.) and our '' Ob- 

 servations Nom. Wils. Orn." 



European Numenii. 



1. Numenius arquata. Lath. Crown deep brown, with whitish 

 streaks, no medial line ; rump white ; long axillary feathers pure 

 white ; bill long, not much arcuated. 



he Courlis, Buffon pi. enl. 818. 



Inhabits common throughout Europe, Asia, and northern Africa: 

 abounding most to the north, from western Iceland to eastern 

 Kamtschatka : found in England at all times, in Italy only a winter 

 visitant. Analogous to N. longirostris. 



2. Numenius phaopus, Lath. Crown deep brown, with a whitish 

 medial line ; rump white ; long axillary feathers banded with black 

 and white ; bill short, much arcuated. 



he Corlieu, Buff. pi. enl. 842. 



Inhabits throughout the old continent, New Holland, and the ad- 

 jacent islands : breeds within the Arctic circle : we have ourselves 

 identified specimens from Java. Rare in the vicinity of Rome. 

 Analogous to N hudsonicus. 



3. Numenius tenuirostris, Vieill. Crown brown, streaked with 

 whitish ; rump and ground color of the tail, pure white ; long axil- 

 lary feathers pure white ; bill short, slender, not much arcuated. 



Never figured. 



I was the first to discover this species in Europe ; and following 

 the practice of modern ornithologists, ought to have considered it as 

 new : but on referring to the pages of Vieillot, in the second edition 



