262 



VERTEBRATES I BIRDS. 



temperate North America, is about twenty-five inches 

 long, and the wing ten to eleven inches ; the curved bill 



Fig. 139- 



Long-billed Curlew, N. longirostris, Wils. 



from five to eight inches long. The upper parts are pale 

 rufous tinged with ashy, every feather marked with brown- 

 ish black ; the under parts pale rufous, with longitudinal 

 lines of black on the neck and sides. 



The Short-billed Curlew, N. hudsonicus, Lath., of the 

 Atlantic and Pacific coasts of North America, is eigh- 

 teen inches long, the wing nine inches ; and the bill three 

 to four inches long. 



The Esquimaux Curlew, N. borealis, Lath., of North 

 America, is thirteen and a half inches long, the wing eight 

 and a quarter inches ; the bill two and a quarter to two 

 and a half inches long. 



RALLID^E, OR RAIL FAMILY. This Family comprises 

 waders, with a strong, compressed bill, compressed body, 

 rather short wings, and long toes. They live in marshes, 

 and are but little seen except by hunters and naturalists. 



The Genus Rallus Rails has the bill rather longer 

 than the head, wings and tail very short. It includes 

 about twenty species, inhabiting all countries. 



The King Rail, or Marsh Hen, R. elegans, Aud., of the 

 Atlantic and Pacific coasts of North America, in the 



