' 



iir 



312 



PR.ECOCIAL GRALLATOKES — LLMICOL^E. 



verse and confluent Itnntls of browuisb bliick, most numerous and preiloniinatin}{ on the back ami 

 scapulars ; secondary (iuills, under wing-coverts, and axillaries, lirij,'lit rufous ; primaries witli tjioir 

 outer \vel)s lirownisii Mack and llicir inner wehs rnfous, uitli transverse liands of lilack. Undii 

 jiarts pale rufous, with l(inj,'itudinal lines of lilack on the neck and sides ; tail rufoUs, tiu^'ed wiili 

 ashy, transversely liarred with lirownisii lilack. Specimens vary to some extent in the sha<le of 

 the rufous color of the plumage, and very nnich in the length of the bill. The rufous color i-: 

 probably more distinct in the young. Total length about :2").(K) inches; extent, about 40.(mi ; 

 wing, KMHt-l !.(«) ; tail, 4.(«) ; bill, -'.HO (immature individual) to H.nu ; tarsus, i.-^'t. liill lilack, 

 beconung dull light lilac-brown on basal half of the mamlible ; iris brown; legs and feet gray. 



Downy young: Very pale ocliraceous, with a tinge of sulphur-yellow, rather deejier below than 

 above. Upper parts marbled coarsely and rather irregidarly with Idack. Hill straight, about l.Ki 

 inches long. 



The Loiig-billod ('iirlcw luis ti geiioral hut irrogtilar distrihiition over North Ann-rica. 

 from the (.hilf of Mexico to Ciiiuulu, jukI from the I'ucitit^ to the Atlantic. In the 

 I'usteni States, though occasionally .seen in considerable nuiulx!r,s, it is of uncertain 

 aiul irregular apiiearanee. It is coiiinion on tlie prairies of the Western States, uud 

 is more almiulant on the Paciiic than on the Atlantic coast. It is not known witli 

 certainty ever to visit the Fur Uegion, nor has it been met with in Alaska, or 

 on tlu; Pacific coast north of N'ancoiiver Island, in which latter place its presence is 

 recorded by Mr. H. Browne. 



Dr. CJooper mentions tiiuling the young of this species, coinnion on the Tlains of 

 the L'pper ilissouri, in .lune. The same writer states that it abouinls in California 

 during the cooler months ; and as it is to be found in that State in small numbers 

 during May ami .fune, while the young niaki^ their appearance in July at San I'eih'o, 

 he considers it probable that some breetl about the lakes in the interior, especially in 

 the northeastern portions of California, where, indeed, this species was noticed by 

 Dr. Newberry in summer. It seems, however, probable that it migrates directly 

 south from its summer resorts to San Pedro, as it is randy seen at San Krain'is<(i 

 before Seiitembcr; after whitdi, however, it remains throughout the winter. Colundiia 

 Iliver is about the limit of its northern range along the coast, and it is not common 

 there. In California, as also elsewhere, it freciueuts dry jdains ami i)asture.s (juite as 

 much as it does the marshes, and Hocks nuiy be foiuid throughout the valleys during 

 th(( winter. It feeds (p'.ite as much on grassho])i)ers and other iiLsects as on worms 

 and small crabs, it is very shy ami watclif\il, es])ecially on the dry and open ]dains. 

 where artifice is usually necessary to obtain it, ami it can often be allured within 

 gunshot by an imitation of its cries, which are usually whistling notes, loud ami 

 variable in character. In California this bird is regarded as excellent eating. 



Dr. I'ickering mention.s fimling it in (h'cgou in Juiu'. 1841. where large numbers 

 had taken u\) their residence in the grassy Hats ami jdains. ami were undoubtedly 

 breeding. He describes its note as being a sort of whistle, m)t unlike the word nir- 

 lew, with the last syllable nuadi jjrolonged, ami uttered more (piickly, and in a more 

 complaining tone when the bird is Hying overhead. In one instance he noticed this 

 bird alighting in the top of a tree during a rain, and frequently repeating its note. 

 Once he saw it attacdv ami (dnise a Hawk, which retreated quite precipitately. In its 

 habits ami general apjiearaiu'c it reminded him of the (Cayenne Lapwing as seen in 

 South America; subsecpiently. in the month of October, Dr. Pickering also met with 

 it in large lumdjers in California. 



Cai)tain Uemlire, in his "Notes on the I5irds of Eastern Oregon," mentions this 

 species as a common summer resident, breeding abuiulantly. It often iiests in wet 

 and partly flooded meadows. In the spring of 187G he found three sets partly cov- 



