GRALLJ5 — SCOLOPACID^E — NUMENITJS. 233 



This Curlew is well known to our sportsmen along the coast, under the names of Big 

 Curlew and Sickle-bill. It appears on the coast of this State, on its way to the north, about 

 the middle of May, and again in August and September on its return. It does not confine 

 itself exclusively to the seaboard, for it has been observed by Dr. Kirtland in Ohio, and by 

 others in Kentucky and Missouri. There appears to be a great discrepancy of opinion as to 

 its usual geographical range ; for whilst some consider it as a straggler beyond South Caro- 

 lina, others state that it extends to the 68th parallel. It is certain that they are abundant on 

 the shores of this State daring the season, and occasionally are seen here as late as the 

 middle of November. Its food consists of small shells, insects, berrks, worms and small 

 crab? The flesh with us is considered indifferent eating. Breeds in Texas, South-Carolina, 

 and, as we suspect, much farther north. 



THE JACK CURLEW. 



NuMENIUS HUDSONICUS. 



PLATE XCVI. FIG. 215. 

 (STATE COLLECTION.) 



Numenius hudsonicvs. Latham, Ind. Om. Vol. 2, p. 712. 



Scolopax borealis. Wilson, Am. Orn. Vol. 7, p. 22, pi. 56, fig. 1. 



N. hudsonicus. Bonaparte, Ann. Lye. Nat. Hiat. N. Y. Vol. 2, p. 3M. Nbttale, Man. Orn. Vol. 2, p. 97. 



N, id. Audubon, Birds of Am. Vol. 6, p. 42, pi. 35C. Giraub, Birds of Long island, p. 272. 



Characteristics. Crown deep brown, with a whitish medial line. Rump uniform with the 

 rest. Axillary feathers barred with dark brown and reddish. Bill 

 much arched. Length, 17*0. 



Description. Bill shorter than in the preceding species, and much more regularly arched 

 throughout. Tibia reticulated on the upper portion of the naked space, scutellate in front 

 beneath. Tail short, slightly rounded. 



Color. Above dull brown, with a few marginal whitish spots ; the shafts of the feathers 

 being of a deeper hue. An obscure whitish stripe over the eye : line from the base of the 

 bill, through the eye, dark brown. Chin, belly, thighs and under tail-coverts white ; the 

 latter barred with brown on the sides : tail barred with dark brown and grey. Neck, breast 

 and flanks streaked with brown and grey. Quills blackish brown, barred on their inner webs 

 with dilated reddish white bars ; the shaft of the first quill white ; the others becoming 

 gradually tinged with reddkh. After the sixth, the quills become barred on both webs. Bill 

 brownish black, flesh-colored at the base beneath. 



Length, 16-0-18-0. 



The Jack Curlew, or Short-billed Curlew, appears on the seacoast of this State at the 

 same seasons, and migrates apparently through the same geographical range with the pre- 

 ceding. Like that species, too, it occurs far in the interior ; for it has been noticed by Dr. 



[Fauna — Part 2.1 30 



