'892-] Mackay 01 the Eskimo Ctirlezv. 



19 



tame.* I have occasionally shot the older birds on the Island of 

 Nantucket, with their vent stained purple from the berries of the 

 Etnpctrin)! uigru7>i ( probabl}- obtained in Labrador). 



In order to give some idea that may serve as an indication when 

 the Curlew moves soutlnvard, I have copied the following from 

 my notes, — my place of observation being the Island of Nan- 

 tucket, Mass. The years 1S5S to 1871 and 1S73-1876, both 

 inclusive, were given me by a friend, and are for Cape Cod, Mass. 



1S5S, Aug. 31.— Some Eskimo Curlew, with Golden Plover. 



1859, Aug. 29. — Some- Eskimo Curlew, with Golden Plover. 



1S60, September. — Some Eskimo Curlew during the month. 



1861, Sept. 5. — First birds shot, — with Golden Plover. 



1862. — No birds. 



1S63, Sept. 5. — No birds of anv account until Sept. 5 when an immense 

 flight, the birds remaining through September on Cape Cod. Over 200 

 shot on Nantucket. The wind was light, southwest, with thick fog. It 

 was northeast the previous day. The largest flight known on the island 

 bf late years. 



1864.— No birds. 



1S65. — No birds. 



1866, September. — A very few birds. No flight. 



1867.— No flight. 



1868, September. — No birds until September, when a verv few. No 

 flight. 



1869, September. — No flight. A few scattering birds only. 

 1870. — Only a very few scattering birds this vear. 



1871. — No flight or birds. 



1572, Aug. 29. — Raining and blowing very hard with wind southeast. 

 Some Eskimo Curlew landed. Saw one flock of fifty. 



Sept. 15.- — Cape Cod. A flight, but did not stop; a few scattering birds 

 landed ; shot six. 



1573, Aug. 25. — Some birds. 



1S74. — No flight or birds, an unusually poor year. 



1S75. — ^o Eskimo Curlew noted, nor have I seen any on Nantucket. 

 Some shot on Cape Cod Sept. 5,- — the first this yeai-. 



1876. — Some birds in September. 



1S77, Aug. 27. — A severe rain last night, and a good many Eskimo Cur- 

 lew landed; I saw 250 (estimated) up to three o'clock p. jM. today, the 

 same birds that caine last night. This morning until ten o'clock a.m. 

 thick fog; then came out hot. Saw 100 Eskimo Curlew on the 29th. 



*There is a way of determining the old birds from the young, where there is little 

 difference in plumage to distinguish them; on bending the legs the former's will 

 break, the latter's will not. 



