WHIMBREL. 



619 



darker brown ; chin white ; chest pale brown, each feather 

 with a dark brown central streak ; breast and belly nearly 

 white ; flanks dull white, barred transversely with brown ; 

 under tail-coverts nearly white, with brown longitudinal 

 streaks ; legs and toes bluish black ; claws black. 



The female from which the representation was taken, 

 measured eighteen inches ; the beak, from the point to the 

 commencement of the feathers on the top, three inches and 

 a half. 



An adult male measured sixteen inches ; the beak three 

 inches ; the wing, from the carpal joint to the end of the 

 longest primary quill-feather, nine inches and a half; the 

 first quill-feather the longest in the wing. 



In young birds of the year the beak is very short, not 

 exceeding two inches in length ; but the sexes, whether old 

 or young, do not differ much either in tints or markings. 



The flesh of the Curlew and the Whimbrel are alike 

 excellent. 



The figure below represents the breast-bone of the Cur- 

 lew, one-third less than the natural size. 



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