630 



SCOLOPACID^E. 



perhaps better than the Curlew, and has been called the " Woodcock" of 

 Bengal. 



Numenius arquatus. The Curlew. 



1314. Numenius arquatUS (Linn.}, Jerd., B. 2nd. iii. p. 683, No. 

 877 ; Dresser, B. Eur. viii. p. 243, pi. ; Hume, Sir. F. iii. p. 182 ; Murray, 

 Vert.ZooL, Sind. p, 247; Oates, B. Br. Burm. ii. p. 412. Scolopax 

 arquata, Lmn., Sysf. Nat. i, p. 242. Numenius lineatus, Cuv^ Regn, Am'm. 

 i, p. 521; Blyth, B. Burn. I, p. 155; Legge, B t Ceylon p. 906. The 

 CURLEW. 



Head, neck behind and in front, also the breast, rufescent ashy, or rufescent 

 grey brown, the feathers with dark mesial longitudinal shaft-streaks ; upper 

 back and scapulars varying from dusky to dark brown, the feathers broadly 

 edged fulvous or pale rufous ; upper abdomen white, the feathers with dusky 

 shaft-streaks ; lower abdomen, vent and under tail coverts pure white ; lower 

 back white ; rump and upper tail coverts also white, with dark shafts ; tail 

 fulvous white with transverse brown bars ; chin and throat white, also a small 

 space above the eye in some specimens ; first five primaries and edge of wing 

 dark brown, their inner webs mottled with white j- secondaries dusky brown, 

 with transverse white bars on both webs half across only, the dark markings 

 forming a rude saw, the edges and tips of the feathers white. 



Length. 21 to 26 inches; wing 12 to 12-5; tail 4-5; bill at front 5 to 

 7*25 ; irides dark brown ; legs and feet bluish grey. 



Hab. Throughout most parts of Europe, India, Burmah, Ceylon, N, Africa, 

 Egypt, Abyssinia and Palestine. Common along the sea coast and back 



