386 CHARADBIIDJE NUMENIUS 



and well developed ; a basal web between the anterior toes, best 

 developed between the middle and outer ones. 



About nine species of this genus, which contains the Curlews 

 and their allies, are found distributed over the greater part of the 

 world ; two of these, both well-known European birds, are found 

 within our limits. 



Key of the Species. 



A. Larger, wing about ll'O ; crown like the back ; the 



feathers pale mottled with darker centres. N. arquatus, p. 386. 



B. Smaller, wing under 1OO ; crown dark brown with 



a central whitish median longitudinal band N.phceopus, p. 388. 



736. Numenius arquatus. Curlew. 



Scolopax arquata, Linn. Syst. Nat. 12th ed. i, p. 242 (1766). 



Numenius arquatus, Grill, K. Vet. Akad. Handl. Stoclch. ii, no. 10, 

 p. 53 (1858) [Knysna] ; Gurney, Ibis, 1860, p. 218 [Natal] ; Layard, 

 B. 8. Afr. p. 322 (1867) ; Gurney, in Anderssorts B. Damaraland, 

 p. 299 (1872) ; Dresser, B. Eur. viii, p. 243, pi. 578 (1872) ; Buckley, 

 Ibis, 1874, p. 388 ; Barratt, Ibis, 1876, p. 213 ; Ay res, Ibis, 1877, 

 p. 350 ; Butler, Feilden and Reid, Zool. 1882, p. 424 ; Sliarpe, ed. 

 Laijard's B. S. Afr. p. 692 (1884) ; Seebohm, Geogr. Distr. Charadr. 

 p. 322 (1888) ; Sliarpe, Cat. B. M. xxiv, p. 341 (1896) ; Shelley, B. 

 Afr. i, p, 192 (1896) ; Woodward Bros. Natal B. p. 186 (1899) ; 

 Alexander, Ibis, 1900, p. 455 ; Beichenow, Vog. Afr. i, p. 209 (1900) ; 

 Haagner, Ibis, 1902, p. 580. 



FIG. 127. Head of Numenius arquatus. x i. 



Description. Adult Male in non-breeding plumage. General 

 colour above pale brown with darker brown centres to the feathers 

 giving a striped appearance to the bird; wing-coverts dark brown 

 edged and slightly notched with white ; primaries blackish, the 

 outer ones with the shafts white and the inner web notched and 

 barred with whitish ; the inner primaries and secondaries notched 



