CHAPTER XYI. 



ESQUIMAUX CURLEW, OR SHORT-BILLED CURLEW. SCOLOPAX 



EOREALIS. 



"Soothed by tLe murmurs of the sea-beat shore, 

 His dun-gray plumage floating to the gale, 

 The Curlew blends his melancholy wail 

 With those hoarse sounds the rushing waters pour." 



NOMENCLATURE AND DESCRIPTION. 



This large and handsome bird is known to our shooters as 

 the Jack Curlew, or Short-Billed Curlew, iu contradistinction 

 to the other variety, the Numenius Longerostris, or Long- 

 Billed Curlew. 



"The Esquimaux Curlew is eighteen inches long, and thirty- 

 two inches in extent ; the bill, which is four inches and a half 

 long, is black towards the point ; and a pale purplish flesh 

 color near the base ; upper part of the head dark brown ; 

 divided by a narrow stripe of brownish-white; over each eye 

 extends a broad line of pale drab; iris dark-colored; hind part 

 of the neck streaked with dark brown; forepart and whole 



