322 BIllDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



even ; the tarsi lengthened and slender ; the toes long, the 

 lateral ones united at the base of the middle toe ; the hind toe 

 short, sometimes wanting. 



Genus NUMENIUS, Latham. 



Bill more or less long, slender, and curved from the base, 

 with the sides compressed and grooved for nearly its whole 

 length; the tip of the upper mandible projecting over that of 

 the lower, and rather obtuse ; the nostrils basal, lateral, and 

 placed in a lateral groove, with the opening longitudinal and 

 covered by a membrane; wings long and pointed, with 

 the first quill the longest ; tail short and even ; tarsi longer 

 than the middle toe, slender, and covered in front with 

 narrow transverse scales ; toes moderate, the lateral toes 

 unequal, and united at their bases ; the hind toe long, 

 slender, and partly resting on the ground ; the claws short 

 and obtuse. 



607. Numenius Arquatus. (Lath.) PI. Eni. 



818 ; The Curlew, Bewick's Brit. Birds, p. 68. 



PLUMAGE of the head, neck, and fore part of the back, light 

 reddish-grey, streaked longitudinally with blackish-brown ; 

 hind part of the back white, with narrow longitudinal dark 

 marks ; tail white, with twelve dark-brown bars ; the breast, 

 sides, and abdomen, white, with lanceolate dark-brown spots 

 and bars ; bill very long (six to seven inches) and curved down- 

 wards. Total length (of male), 25"; wing, 12" 6"'; tail, 

 4" 6'". The female is somewhat smaller. 



The Curlew is not uncommon on our sea-border throughout its whole 

 extent. It maintains its characteristic shyness, and rarely falls to the 

 gun of the sportsman. I never heard of its breeding in tho colony, 

 though it is found here throughout the year. I met with it up the 

 whole East Coast, as far as the Line. Schlegel separates our South 

 African species from the European bird on account of its size, and 

 calls it Nutiunius Major. 



608. Numenius Phoeopus. (Linn.) PL Eni. 



842 ; The Whimbrel, or Little Curlew, Bewick's Brit. 



Birds, p. 70. 



UPPER part of the head, dark-brown, with a medial and two 

 lateral whitish bands, streaked with dusky ; neck, all round, 

 pale brownish- grey, streaked with brown; feathers of the 

 fore part of the back, scapulars, and wing- coverts, dusky, 

 with marginal whitish spots ; hind part of back white ; tail 



