125 



[Buff.] 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS. 



from three to five and are of a grayish buff color, 

 spotted and blotched with blackish brown. The 

 young, like those of all the shore birds, are hatched 

 covered with down, and run about as soon as born. 

 They are anxiously attended by the parents and at 

 the least sign of danger, conceal themselves beneath 

 a tuft of grass or behind a small stone, where they 

 remain perfectly motionless until called by the old 

 birds. The adults frequently attempt to lead an en- 

 emy away from the young by feigning a broken wing, 

 or lameness. Size of eggs 1.35 x. 90. Data. Parker 

 Co., Ind., May 22, 1901. Nest about six yards from 

 bank of creek, among weeds on a sand bar; a hollow in the sand lined with 

 weeds. Collector, Winfield S. Catlin. 



264. Long-billed Curlew. Numenius longirostris. 



: Range. Breeds in the South Atlantic states and northward in the interior to 

 Manitoba and British Columbia. 



This is the largest of the 

 family of shore birds, having 

 a length of about 24 inches. 

 Its plumage is of a buffy 

 color, much variegated above 

 with black and brown; the 

 bill is strongly curved down- 

 ward and is from four to eight 

 inches in length. Their nests 

 are located on the ground in 

 meadows or on the prairies, 

 and three or four eggs are 

 laid, of a buff or greenish 

 buff color, covered with num- 

 erous spots of brownish black. 

 Eggs of the common Curlew 

 [Greenish buff.] of Europe, have been very 



frequently used as belonging to this species, but the eggs of our species have a 

 lighter and more greenish ground, and the spots are smaller- and more num- 

 erous. Size, 2.50 x 1.80. 



265. Hudsonian Curlew. Numenius hudsonicus. 



Range. Whole of North America, breeding in the Arctic regions and winter- 

 ing south of the United States. 



This species is smaller (length 

 17 inches), darker, more grayish 

 and has a shorter bill than the pre- 

 ceding species. It also has white 

 median and lateral stripes on the 

 top of the head. The nesting hab- 

 its are the same as those of the 

 Long-billed species; the three or 

 four eggs have a brownish buff 

 ground color and are blotched with 

 blackish brown. Size 2.25 x 1.60. 

 Data. McKenzie River, Arctic 

 America. Nest a pile of grass, 

 moss and weeds on an island in 

 the river. Collector, J. O. Stringer. 



[Brownish buff. I 



