Il8 WADING BIRDS. 



LONG-BILLED CURLEW. 



SICKLE -BILL. 

 NUMENIUS LONGIROSTRIS. 



Char. Upper parts mottled gray, black, and pale rufous, — rufous 

 being the prevailing tint ; under parts pale cinnamon, the neck and breast 

 with dusky streaks ; secondary quills rufous, primaries brownish black ; 

 bill black ; legs brownish black. Length about 25 inches. 



Nest. On the ground, sometimes in wet meadows ; a slight depression, 

 lined, sparingly, with grass. 



Eggs. 3-4 (very variable in size, color, and markings) ; olive drab to 

 pale buff, thickly speckled and blotched with brown, sometimes spotted 

 with lilac also ; average size about 2.60 X 1.80. 



The Long-billed Curlew is seen in the marshes of New Jer- 

 sey about the middle of May on its way farther north, and 

 in September or the latter end of August on its return from 

 its breeding-places. How far south it retires in the course 

 of the winter, has not been ascertained ; but a few, no doubt, 

 winter in the marshes of South Carolina, as I have observed 

 specimens on the muddy shores of the Santee, near Charleston, 

 in the month of January. Its southern migration in all proba- 

 bility is bounded by the shores of the Mexican Gulf. Like 

 most species of the genus, it retires into the desolate regions 

 of the North to breed. Dr. Richardson believes that it fre- 

 quents the plains of the Saskatchewan and the Columbia at 

 this season, and it is known to visit the neighborhood of 

 Hudson Bay. In Major Long's expedition it appears that 

 some of these birds were observed as far inland as the Illinois, 

 latitude 42°, on the 15 th of June, — which might be supposed 

 about the time of breeding. According to Wilson, a few in- 

 stances have been known of one or two pairs remaining in the 

 salt-marshes of Cape May the whole summer ; and they were 

 believed to nest there on the ground, laying four eggs in size 

 and color much resembUng those of the Clapper Rail. In- 

 deed, it will probably be found that many birds now supposed 

 to pass the period of reproduction in the remote regions of 



