352 TRINGIN^J. 



The Curlew is a not uncommon cold weather visitant to suit- 

 able localities throughout the region ; it is much more common on 

 the sea-coast than it is inland, where it only affects the larger 

 j heels. 



Numenius phseopus, Lin. 



878. Jerdon's Birds of India, Vol. II, p. 684 ; Butler, Guzerat ; 



Stray Feathers, Vol. IV, p. 16; Deccan, Stray Feathers, Vol. 



IX, p. 429; Murray's Vertebrate Zoology of Sind, p. 247. 

 THE WHIMBREL. 



Length, 16 to 18 ; expanse, 29 ; wing, 9'5 to 10; tail, 375 ; 

 bill at front, 3'0 to 3' 5. 



Bill dusky, reddish at base ; irides brown ; legs dark bluish- 

 grey. 



Forehead and crown cinereous-brown, the latter divided by a 

 longitudinal pale streak ; over each eye a broad streak of white 

 mixed with brown ; sides of the head, neck, and breast, pale-ashy 

 with brown streaks ; upper back, scapulars, and wing-coverts deep 

 brown, the feathers with pale edgings ; lower back white : rump 

 white, barred with ashy-brown ; tail cinereous brown with dark 

 oblique bars ; abdomen and under tail-coverts white, the flanks 

 barred with brown. 



The Whimbrel is common all along the sea-coast during the 

 cold season ; it is much more rare inland. 



SUB-FAMILY, Tringinse. 



Bill short or moderate, soft, and somewhat flexible, occasionally 

 dilated or curved ; wings long ; tail short ; legs moderate, short ; 

 the toes usually divided to the base, or with a very rudimentary 

 web. 



GENUS, PhilomachllS, Mceliring. 



Bill, wings, and tail, as in Tringa ; tarsus somewhat more 

 lengthened ; the outer- toe joined to the middle one by a short 

 web. 



Philomachus pugnax, Lin. 



880. Jerdon's Birds of India, Vol. II, p. 687; Butler, Guzerat; 

 Stray Feathers, Vol. IV, p. 17; Deccan, Stray Feathers, Vol. 

 IX, p. 429 ; Murray's Vertebrate Zoology of Sind, p. 248 ; 

 Machetes pugnax, Lin. ; Swinhoe and Barnes, Central India ; 

 Ibis, 1885, p. 134. 



THE RUFF. 



Length, 12 to' 13 ; wing, 7'25 ; expanse, 22'5 ; tail, 2'5 ; tarsus, 

 2 ; bill at front, T3 ; weight, 6 oz. 



In winter plumage, the male has the upper plumage variable, 

 generally rich brown, with black central spots, and reddish or 

 whitish edges, the head and neck usually somewhat paler ; the 



