Birds of Celebes: Charadriidae. 795 



guished by its bill which is i.'/., to 2 times the length of the tarsus and has the 

 nasal groove running down it almost to the extreme tip ; from Scolojmx the up- 

 curved character of the bill, the middle toe shorter than the tarsus , the small 

 web between the basal phalanges of the outer and middle toes, as well as the 

 different type of plumage serve to separate it. In its changes of plumage from 

 the greys and browns of winter to the fine brick red and brown of the breeding 

 season it resembles Phalaropus fulicarius and certain Tringae , especially Tringa 

 suharquata. As in Phalaropus, the female Limosa is a finer bird (at least in 

 point of size) than the male. Moreover, as Prof. Newton (D. B. 366) points 

 out, the male is believed to take the chief duty of incubation on himself). 



Limosa melanuroides Gld. which ranges from East Siberia south in winter 

 to Australia, and which must sometimes set foot on Celebes, may be distin- 

 guished from the present bird by its black tail (except at base) and white upper 

 tail-coverts. 



GENUS NUMENIUS Briss. 



The Curlews are best characterized by their long decurved bills, with the 

 nasal groove discernible down to the terminal fourth ; the toes webbed at the 

 base and shorter than the tarsus ; the tarsus for the most part transversely scutel- 

 lated in front (in N. minutus behind also). Most of the species are of large 

 size, and wear a general plumage of brown, varied with pale brown and white, 

 below chiefly whitish, streaked or barred with brown. 



Several forms occur, probably as winter visitors only, in Celebes. The 

 genus is almost cosmopolitan. 



- 339. NUMENIUS MINUTUS J.Gcl. 



Little Whimbrel. 



Numenius minutus (1) Gld., P. Z. S. 1840, 176; (IIj id., B. Austr. 1848, VI, pi. 44; 

 (3) Schl,, Mus. P.-B., Scolopaces, 1864, 101; (4) id., Ned. Tdsclir. Dierk. 1866, m, 

 348; (5) Wald., Tr. Z. S. 1872, Vm, 96; (6) Salvad., Oat. Ucc. Borneo 1874, 334; 

 (6>>'') Briigg., Abh. Ver. Bremen 1876, V, 464; f7j David & Oust., Ois. Chine 

 1877, 458; (8) Salvad., Orn. Pap. 1882, III, 334; (9) Meyer, Z. ges. Om. 1884, 295; 



(10) Seel)., Ibis 1884, 34, 268; (11) id., Distr. Charadi-. 1887, 335; fl2j Dorries, 

 J. f. 0. 1888, 90; (13) Seeb., B. Japan 1890, 317; (14) Styan, Ibis 1891, 331, 508; 

 (15) Salvad., Orn. Pap. Agg. 1891, 205; (16) De La Touche, Ibis 1892, 501; 

 (17) Tacz., Faune Orn. Sib. Orient. 1893, n, 947. 



a. Numenius minor (nee Briss., Leach); (1) S. MiilL, Verh. Natuurk. Comm. 1839 — 44, 110; 



(11) Temm. & Schl., Faun. Jap., Aves 1850, 111, pi. 67; (3) Swinh., Ibis 1863, 

 409; (4) Gld., Hb. B. Austr. 1865, H, 280; (5) Dresser, B. Eui-ope Vm, 245 

 (1873); (6) Seeb., Ibis 1885, 363; (7) Rams., Tab. List 1888, 20. 



>) This point has received confirmation from Prof. Newton himself, who informs us (in lit.) tliat he 

 :ias had the male bird shot from the nest. 



100' 



