96 BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



I have never met with the Long-billed Curlew in Pennsylvania, where 

 it occurs only as a rare and irregular migrant, in the spring and fall. 

 The late Judge Libhart, in his report, mentions this species as a rare 

 visitor in Lancaster county. Mr. D. F. Keller, of Reading, says it has 

 been taken in Berks county, and Mr. Thomas S. Gillin, of Ambler, has 

 observed it as an occasional visitor in Montgomery county. Dr. Coues 

 (Birds of the Northwest} says: "Unlike our other two species of curlew, 

 the Long-billed is perfectly at home in most parts of the United States, 

 rearing its young even down on our southern border. Its northern 

 range is restricted, apparently, by the region of the Saskatchewan, as 

 intimated by Eichardson, and the length of the British Provinces ad- 

 joining the United States. I was, however, assured of its occurrence in 

 Labrador, though I did not see it myself. In New England it appears 

 to be rather uncommon, according to all accounts. * * * I found it 

 resident on the North Carolina coast, where it undoubtedly breeds. I 

 found it breeding with Godwits and Bartramian Tattlers on the prairies 

 of Minnesota and eastern Dakota, and likewise observed it in June, ap- 

 parently breeding, in New Mexico, near Fort Wingate, just west of the 

 Rio Grande. * * * It is by no means confined to the vicinity of the 

 water, but, on the contrary, is often seen on extensive dry plains, where 

 it feeds on various molluscs, insects and berries, which it deftly secures 

 with its extraordinarily long bill. The length and curve of this member, 

 gives the bird a singular and unmistakable appearance, either in flight 

 or when gathering its food. Its voice is sonorous and not at all musical." 



Numenius borealis (FORST.)- 



Eskimo Curlew; Dough-bird. 



DESCRIPTION. 



" Much smaller than the preceding ; bill rather longer than the head, slender ; wings 

 long ; tail short ; legs moderate ; entire upper parts brownish-black, spotted with 

 dull yellowish-rufous ; quills brownish-black, uniform on both webs, without bars 

 on either ; under wing-coverts and axillaries light-rufous, with transverse stripes of 

 brownish-black ; under parts dull-white, tinged with rufous, with longitudinal 

 narrow stripes of brownish-black on the neck and breast, and transverse stripes of 

 the same on the sides and under tail-coverts ; tail ashy-brown, with transverse bands 

 of brownish- black ; bill brownish-black ; base of under mandible yellow ; legs green- 

 ish-brown ; iris dark-brown. Length about 13^ inches ; (extent about 28) ; bill 2| to 

 2i ; tarsus If." B. B. of N. A. 



Habitat. Eastern Province of North America, breeding in the Arctic regions, 

 and migrate south to South America. 



Bare spring and fall migrant. A few of t^ese birds are seen every 

 year about the shores of Erie bay, where, in October, 1889, two were shot 

 by Mr. James Thompson, of Erie city. 



