148 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
10. NuMENIUS LONGIROSTRIS. 
The American Curlew differs from the three European 
Curlews in two very conspicuous points. In the first place the 
rump, instead of being pure white with or without streaks, but 
in either case in strong contrast to the darker mantle, scarcely 
differs in colour from the rest of the upper parts; and, in the 
second place, the axillaries, instead of being white barred or 
unbarred with brown, are uniform deep buff. It may be dis- 
tinguished from its Siberian ally by the absence of bars on the 
axillaries, or by its rich buff under parts unstreaked on the 
lower breast and belly. It breeds in Temperate North America, 
and winters in Mexico and Central America, but is a resident in 
many of the intervening districts. 
11. NUMENIUS CYANOPUS. 
The Australian Curlew scarcely differs from its American 
ally, either in dimensions or in the colour of its upper parts. 
It may, however, be easily distinguished by the colour of the 
under parts, which (including the axillaries) are nearly white, 
streaked and barred with brown. 
Like its ally in the New World, it is a migratory bird, but 
the migrations of the Curlews on the Asiatic shores of the Pacific 
are on a very different scale to those of their cousins on the 
American shores of that ocean. The Australian Curlew breeds 
in South-eastern Siberia, from Lake Baikal to the mouth of the 
Amoor, passes along the coasts of Japan and China on migration, 
and crosses the line to winter in Australia. 
One more point is worthy of consideration in connection with 
the geographical distribution of the genus Numenius. What light, 
if any, does its farthing candle cast upon the Zoological Regions 
of Sclater and Wallace? Of the five groups into which this 
genus appears to be naturally divided, four find one boundary in 
the Atlantic Ocean, two find their other boundary in the Valley 
of the Yenesay, and two at Behring Straits, whilst the boundaries 
of the fifth are not yet ascertained. 
