322 AMKUWAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



places, the latter are associated with them. They are one of the most 

 graceful creatures that flies, and one who has not seen them can form a 

 faint impression of them by watching the gambols of a Barn Swallow, 

 whose manouvers over the land are outdone by theirs over the sea. 



Nearly every harbor and bay along the Atlantic coast has it's Tern 

 island, although the casual observer would never be aware of it. A 

 few Terns may be seen floating, sailing, turning or diving but one 

 would be unaware of the hundreds and sometimes thousands that are 

 ready to take flight as soon as a foot is placed upon their island, when 

 from the shrill cries one would imagine that they had stumbled upon a 

 nest of huge hornets. They are of a timid nature and beyond making 

 a great outcry, they rarely make any attempt to defend their homes, 

 although frequently one more bold than the rest may make a dash 

 uncomfortably close to the observer's face and cause him to unwitt- 

 ingly duck his head. Their chief anxiety appears to be in seeing a 

 large object moving on their island, for if you cover yourself up with 

 an old sail or even if you sit down and remain perfectly still they will 

 gradually come back and settle upon their nest, only to fly off with 

 louder outcries than ever when you start to leave. Their little fluffy 

 gray young ones are very cute both in looks and action, for they will 

 cuddle down and remain perfectly still, thereby making themselves 

 look exactly like one of the surrounding stones, and very often escap- 

 ing observation. 



Owing to the very efficient protection that is generally being given 

 them now, it appears as though they would increase in numbers and 

 maintain their place along our shores instead of disappearing as they 

 were in a fair way to do a few years ago,,- 



HUDSONIAN CURLEW, 



No. 365- (Numenlas hudsoiiicus ) 



RANGE. 



Found throughout the whole of North and South America; breeds in 

 the far north and migrates to the far south. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Length about 18 in.; extent 32 in.; tail 3.5 in. Bill curved and 

 between three and four in. long. Upper parts variegated with brown 

 and whitish. Top of head blackish brown with a prominent median 

 and lateral stripes. Tail ashy brown with numerous black bars. 

 Under parts dull white streaked with brownish on the neck and breast 

 and with arrow shaped spot on the sides and under parts. 



