292 LEWIS'S AMERICAN SPORTSMAN. 



about thirty ounces ; but individuals differ greatly in this respect. 

 The bill is eight inches long, nearly straight for half its length, 

 thence curving considerably downwards to its extremity, where it 

 ends in an obtuse knob that overhangs the lower mandible ; the 

 color black, except towards the base of the lower, where it is of a 

 pale flesh-color; tongue extremely short, differing in this from the 

 snipe; eye dark; the general color alone of the plumage above is 

 black, spotted, and barred along the edge of each feather with pale 

 brown ; chin, line over the eye, and round the same, pale brownish- 

 white; neck, reddish-brown, streaked with black; spots on the 

 breast more sparingly dispersed; belly, thighs, and vent, pale, 

 plain rufous, without any spots; primaries black on the outer 

 edges, pale brown on the inner, and barred with black ; legs and 

 naked thighs very pale light blue or lead-color; the middle toe 

 connected with the two outer ones as far as the first joint by a 

 membrane, and bordered along the sides with a thick, warty edge ; 

 lining of the wing dark rufous, approaching a chestnut, and thinly 

 spotted with black. The male and female alike in plumage, &c." 



This bird resembles somewhat the English curlew, (Scolopax 

 aquata;) but the difference in the plumage and length of the bill is 

 sufficient to mark it as a distinct species. The English curlew 

 weighs about the same with the American; the bill, however, is 

 two inches shorter. During the season of brambleberries, the cur- 

 lews sometimes desert the marshes and fens, and resort to the old 

 fields to partake of this fruit, and are then free from that strong, 

 sedgy taste which they acquire while feeding on fiddlers, snails, 

 shell-fish, and other strong food. 



These birds, like all their congeners, are very shy and hard to 

 approach. They are often shot down when in company on the sand- 

 flats with other less wary fowls; they are easily decoyed, while 

 flying, by imitating their whistle, with which most of our coast- 

 shooters are familiar, and who often draw them a considerable dis- 

 tance from their course by sounding their expressive notes. All sea- 

 birds should be fired upon while going from us, as they are more 

 easily killed by striking them with the feathers than against them. 



