232 
NEW-YORK FAUNA BIRDS. 
FAMILY SCOLOPACIDAE. 
Bill generally long, slender, feeble, soft, cylindrical, mostly obtuse at the point. Face 
feathered. Legs long, Or moderately so. Toes four, except in the genus C-alidris. 
Hind toe short, scarcely touching the ground. Anterior toes entirely divided, or united by 
a small membrane. Tibia partly naked. 
Obs. This family contains at present upwards of one hundred species, distributed over the 
globe. About twenty-eight are found in the United States, and of these we have to enumerate 
twenty-five observed in the State of New-York. 
GENUS NUMENIUS. Latham. 
Bill very long, slender, arched, rounded. Upper mandible longest, and furrowed throughout 
three-fourths of its length. Nostrils basal, oblong-linear, placed in the lateral groove. 
Toes connected at the base; hind toe bearing on the ground. Tibia moderately denuded. 
Tail short, rounded, and of twelve feathers. 
THE LONG-BILLED CURLEW. 
Numenius longirostris. 
PLATE XCVI. FIG. 216. 
(STATE COLLECTION.) 
Numenius longirostris. Wilson, Am. Orn, Vol. 8, p. 23, pi. 64, fig. 4. Bonap. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. Vol. 2, p. 314. 
Richardson, F. B. A. Vol. 2, p. 376. Nuttall, Man. Ornithology U. S. Vol. 2. p. 
95. Audubon, B. of Am. Vol. 6, p. 35, pi. 355. Giraud, Birds of Long island, p. 271. 
Characteristics. Crown blackish, with whitish streaks, and no medial line. Rump uniform 
in color with the rest of the plumage : long axillary feathers, rusty, 
without bars. Bill 6'0 — 8 ' 0 , much arched. Length, 26'0. 
Description. Bill long, slender, somewhat dilated at the tip, and curving most towards 
the extremity. Nail of the middle toe dilated at the base, slightly incurved, and pointed at 
the tip. Eirst quill longest, acute. Tail much rounded. 
Color. Above blackish brown (deepest on the back), spotted with grey and reddish. 
Chin, line over and round the eye soiled white. Bill deep brown. Legs bluish. Neck 
finely streaked with blackish brown. Beneath reddish buff, unspotted. Axillary feathers 
salmon-colored. Tail barred with pale rufous and brown. 
Length, 25'0 — 27 • 0. 
