526 RARE BRITISH BIRDS 



SLENDERBILLED-CURLEW [Numenius tenuirostris Vieillot. French, courlis ct, bee grele ; 

 German, dunnschnabeliger Brachvogel ; Italian, cJiiurlotello]. 



1. Description. Of about the same size as the whimbrel, it is to be recognised at once by 

 having the crown uniformly striated, white axillaries, and a tarso-metatarsus less than 3 inches 

 in length : it resembles the common-curlew in markings, but is smaller ; under surface of the 

 body white, with blackish streaks on the chest and throat, and with rounded black spots on 

 the flanks, [w. p. P. and T. w.] 



2. Distribution. Although formerly believed to breed in Western Europe, this species is 

 now known to nest in Siberia. Buturlin states that it nests on the steppes of Kherson, the 

 governments of Taurida, Ekaterinoslav, Kharkov (sparingly), Stavropol, and Orenburg. In 

 European Russia it is rare and local, but on the Irtysh River in the Tobolsk government it 

 appears to be common, and also breeds in the Turgai and Uralsk governments. On migration 

 it passes westward, wintering in the Mediterranean region and North Africa, west to S. France, 

 Spain, Algeria, etc., and occasionally wandering to Germany (four), Heligoland (one), Holland 

 (three), Belgium (three), North France, and at least three times to England (Kent, 1910). In 

 Africa it apparently ranges south to Abyssinia. [F. c. E. J.] 



ESKIMO-CURLEW [Numenius boredlis (Forster)]. 



1. Description. Distinguished from all the other curlews by the inner webs of the primary 

 quills, which are uniform in colour (i.e. no bars), and the hexagonal reticulations along the 

 back of the tarso-metatarsus. It is the smallest species of the group. Length 14 in. [368 mm.], 

 culmen 2J in. The adult has the upper parts of a blackish brown, each feather with buff- 

 coloured spots on its outer margin ; as these spots become abraded and wear away very quickly, 

 the upper parts become very dark in consequence ; tail and longer secondaries brownish ash 

 barred with blackish brown ; primaries uniform dark brown ; throat whitish ; lower throat, 

 chest, and sides of the body and under tail-coverts rufescent buff, mesially streaked and faintly 

 barred with blackish brown ; middle of the breast and belly tawny buff; under wing-coverts 

 and axillaries reddish buff barred with dull black ; iris dark brown ; bill brownish black, lower 

 mandible flesh- colour at the base; feet greyish blue, nails black, [w. p. p. and T. w.] 



2. Distribution. Breeds in North America, and has at present only been found nesting in 

 the Barren grounds of Northern Mackenzie, east of Fort Anderson. It has, however, been met 

 with near Ungava Bay and in Alaska. On migration it passes through Canada and the United 

 States east of the Rocky Mountains, and winters in South America, from the Galapagos Islands 

 and Chile to Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, and Patagonia. It has also occurred in Greenland 

 casually, and in the Falkland Isles, and seven or eight times in the British Isles. For some 

 reason, the numbers of this species have greatly diminished of late years, and it is thought 

 possible that it may become extinct. [F. c. R. J.] 



THE BUSTARDS 1 



[ORDER: Gruiformes. FAMILY: Otididw] 



LITTLE-BUSTARD [6tis tetrax Linnaeus. French, outarde canepetiere ; German, Zwerg- 

 trappe ; Italian, gallina prataiola]. 



1. Description. Distinguished by its small size, it being the least of all the European 

 bustards. Length 17 in. [432 mm.]. The male in full summer plumage has the general colour 

 of the upper parts black, barred and irregularly marked with rufous ; top of the head paler ; 



1 Vol. iii. p. 541. 



