130 BIRDS. 



SICKLE BILL. Reddish gray, variegated; L. 24; W. 12; 

 T. 4; B. 5 to 9. U. S., frequent. 



2. N. hudson/cus, Lath. JACK CURLEW. Similar, but 

 paler; L. 18; W. 9; T. 3J; B. 3 or 4. U. S., and north- 

 ward. 



3. N. borealis, (Forst.) Lath. ESQUIMAUX CURLEW. 

 DOUGH BIRD. More reddish; L. 15 or less; W. 8J; T. 

 3; B. 2|. U. S., northwards. 



ORDER R-HERODIOKES. 



(The Herons and Storks.) 



Birds usually of large stature, with compressed body, 

 long legs and a very long "S-bent" neck; tibia naked 

 below; toes long and slender, cleft or slightly webbed, 

 the hind toe comparatively long and (usually) not ele- 

 vated, provided with a large claw. Wings broad, 

 rounded. Tail short. Head narrow, gradually contracting 

 to the stout base of the bill, which is long and mostly 

 hard and acute, with sharp cutting edges; lores, orbital 

 space, and often whole head naked. Plumage with 

 powder-down tracts (explained below); altricial. 



FAMILY LVL ARDEID^E. 



(The Herons.) 



Large birds with the bill straight, longer than the 

 head, compressed, acute, with sharp - cutting edges; 

 upper mandible grooved; nostrils linear; lores naked, 

 the bill appearing to run directly to the eyes; rest of 

 head feathered; parts of the body with "powder -down 

 tracts," strips of short, dusty, or greasy down -like 

 feathers, usually three pairs of these strips, i. e., on the 

 back above the hips, on the belly under the hips, and 



