OF THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 133 



110. NUMENIUS HUDSONICUS Lath. 265. 

 Hudsonian Curlew. 



Bill medium, 3 or 4 inches long ; length, 16-18 ; wing, 9 ; tail, 3^ ; tarsus, 

 2j-2|. Plumage as in the last species in pattern, but general tone much 

 paler ; quills barred. 



Hab. All of North and South America, including the West Indies ; 

 breeds in the high north, and winters chiefly south of the United States. 



Nest similar to the preceding. 



Eggs similar in markings but smaller. 



According to Dr. Coues, this species is less abundant than 

 either of the other two Curlews, yet at Hamilton it is, of the 

 three, most frequentty observed. I was once on the Beach in 

 May, when there appeared to be a migratory movement of Hud- 

 sonian Curlews toward the North. They flew high, in regular 

 order like geese and showed no inclination to alight till a boy 

 with a long shot brought down one, wing broken, from a pass- 

 ing flock. 



Knowing the habits of the birds, he quickly tied it to a stake 

 in a moist meadow, and concealing himself close by, had good 

 shooting during the afternoon, as the loud outcry made by his 

 prisoner brought down every passing flock. 



Of late years very few have been seen. 



HI. NUMENIUS BOREALIS (Forst.). 266. 

 Eskimo Curlew. 



Bill small, under three inches long; length, 12-15 inches ; wing, under 

 9; tail, 3 ; tarsus, 2. Plumage in tone and pattern almost exactly as in the 

 last species, but averaging more rufous, especially under the wings, and pri- 

 maries not barred. 



Hab. Eastern Province of North America, breeding in the Arctic 

 regions, and migrating south to the southern extremity of South America. 



Nest in open plains. 



Eggs similar to the preceeding but smaller. 



The Curlews all resemble each other in plumage, but in size 

 they vary considerably, this being the smallest of thethree. It is 



