101 
Distinctions. Adults have decidedly round breast spots and a slight greenish lustre 
on the back. Young autumn birds resemble the Solitary but are distinguished by white 
instead of barred axillars. 
Field Marks. Size and distinct round spots on breast. When flying it may be 
distinguished from the Solitary Sandpiper, which it most resembles, by the white line 
along the edges of the secondaries and the much smaller amount of black and white 
barring on the tail. The flight, when the observer becomes familiar with it, is also quite 
characteristic. 
Nesting. Slight hollow in ground at no great distance from water, in the shelter 
of a bit of shrub or grass. 
Distribution. Breeds over the whole of eastern Canada to the northernmost parts 
of Ungava. Common throughout its range. 
This is the commonest summer Sandpiper in Canada; occasional pairs 
are to be found along the smallest streams. It frequents all kinds of ground; 
sandy beaches, gravelly reaches, mud flats, or rocky shores. Almost any 
Sandpiper seen in summer near our waters may be put down as this species 
unless there are good grounds for other identification. Its habit of bobbing 
its body up and down occasionally, even when apparently at rest, or more 
rapidly when excited, has given it the common name ‘‘Tip-up’’. Its 
white-barred wings, peculiar flight, with a few quick beats followed by a 
short sail on decurved wings, and its loud triumphant “‘ pewit-pewit-pewit”’ 
as it alights on the stream margin well ahead of the intruder are familiar 
to all observers. One can chase it from point to point for some distance 
from its home ground, when, joined by its mate, it will circle well around 
the disturber and return again to the place from which it started. 
Economic Status. Though normally frequenting water edges it is often 
seen in the adjacent fields, running between the furrows of newly turned 
earth or rows of growing plants. Its food is mainly, if not entirely, insec- 
tivorous, hence it is beneficial to the farmer. The species has not suffered 
severely from shooting and seems to hold its own in the most cultivated 
sections. 
GENUsS—NvuMENIUs. CuRLEWsS. FR.—LE Couruis, LE CoRBIGEAU. 
General Description. Large Shore Birds between 13-50 and 24 inches long. Coloured 
in various shades from cream to weak brown, mottled above, lighter and clear below, neck 
and breast finely striped and with more or less suffusion or suggestion of buff over all. 
The bills are long and curved decidedly downward. 
Distinctions. Large size, decurved bill, and general buffy colour. Distinguished 
from the Godwits by down-curved instead of slightly up-turned bill. 
Field Marks. Large size, and decurved bill, general buff colour. 
Large size among birds is a distinct menace to their existence. The 
Curlews are a good example of this and unless intelligent measures to pro- 
tect them are taken in the near future there will soon be none left. In the 
east the Curlews have almost disappeared, but in the west there is still 
a fair number left. The vegetable part of their food is largely wild fruit and 
in the Maritime Provinces they frequent barrens and upland bogs for 
bake-apple berries and cranberries. In cultivated fields, insects are their 
chief food and as many noxious species, including grasshoppers, are con- 
sumed their presence is decidedly beneficial to the farmer. 
264. Long-billed Curlew. sIcKLE-BILL CURLEW. FR.—LE COURLIS A LONG BEC. 
Numenius americanus. L, 24. The largest of the genus. The coloration of all the 
Curlews is quite similar, but the Long-bill is distinctly buff below instead of creamy- 
white (see previous heading). 
