68 



BRITISH BJRDS. 



THE CURLEW. 



(Numenius A.rqi4ata y Lath. Grand Courtis ccudrc-, 

 Temm.) 



THE Curlew generally measures about two feet 

 in length, and, from tip to tip, above three feet. 

 The bill is about seven inches long, of a regular 

 curve, and tender substance at the point, which is 

 blunt. The upper mandible is black, gradually 

 softening into brown towards the base; the under 

 one flesh-coloured. The head and neck are streak- 

 ed with darkish and light brown; wing coverts the 

 same; the feathers of the back and scapulars are 

 nearly black in the middle, edged and deeply 

 indented with pale rust or light grey. The breast, 

 belly, and lower part of the back are dull white, the 

 latter thinly spotted with black, the two former 



