30 PACIFIC COAST AVIFAUNA No. 9 



Miss Wear reports seeing this species, together with what was thought to 

 be the Lesser Yellow-legs, in some shallow ponds on Fig Avenue in April, 1909 ; 

 and April 17, 1910, melanoleucus was observed near the same place. 



Long-bille:d Curlew. Numenius americanus Bechstein. 



On the plains between McMullin and the Artesian Lake this splendid bird 

 is to be found in small numbers through the winter. November 29, 1904, during 

 a dense fog I several times heard the melodious, inspiring whistle of this great 

 wader and in the next few days three or four flocks of eight to ten birds each 

 were seen ; but they were so wild that a close approach was impossible. 



Mr. Joseph Sloanaker informed me that curlews were present in the vicinity 

 of Raisin during the winter of 1910-11, and that they could be approached in a 

 buggy to within forty or fifty yards when a man on foot could not get nearer 

 than twice that distance. 



HuDSONiAN Curlew. Numenius hudsonicus Latham. 



Hudsonian Curlews are regular spring migrants in suitable places along 

 the western half of the valley. They arrive in small numbers late in February 

 and become more numerous a month later. 



Their favorite resorts are large open fields where shallow ponds occur, and 

 in such places they often gather in large numbers. I have no definite record of 

 this species remaining in spring later than May 7 (1912), but have no doubt 

 that a few remain much longer during certain seasons. 



There are no birds with which I am acquainted that can compare with these 

 splendid waders in the rich musical quaHty of their voices. On the last day of 

 one April I encountered a large flock of curlews in a grain field, part of which 

 was being flooded at the time with irrigation water. In one place there was an 

 area of probably five acres that was covered with water to a depth of several 

 inches. The surrounding higher ground supported a considerable growth of 

 stubble left standing from the harvest of the preceding summer. Approaching 

 to within sixty yards of the big fellows as they stood bunched at the water's 

 edge, I concealed myself as best I could and enjoyed an opportunity to become 

 better acquainted with those most interesting birds. The nervous lispings that 

 at my approach threatened to break into the clamorus, screaming flight calls 

 finally subsided and the birds fed and waded about in the water or preened their 

 feathers while standing stork-like on one leg. Suddenly I was thrilled with a 

 medley of subdued pipings so marvelously sweet and musical that I could hardly 

 believe the sound came from my flock of curlews. The faintest whispering it 

 seemed, yet the liquid melody was really far-reaching and was, as I afterwards 

 learned, distinctly audible from a distance of a quarter of a mile when at- 

 mospheric conditions were favorable. A strange nervous unrest seemed to 

 affect the entire group on the ground. The whistlings became louder and the 

 cause was suddenly revealed to me when a curlew call from overhead drew my 

 attention to a flock of nevv? arrivals, nine in number, that were circling preparatory 

 to joining the company at the pond. My surprise and admiration knew no 

 bounds when I realized the sublime heights at which these travellers through the 

 sky had been flying. Mere specks they appeared, and yet their melodious call 

 rang clear and distinct. 



