324 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



NEST AND EGGS. 

 The Hudsonian Curlews nest about marshy ponds in the far north. 

 The eggs are laid in a slight hollow in the ground; this is nearly 

 always lined, but sparsely, with a few dried grasses. The' eggs are 

 deposited about the middle of June. They are three or four in number, 

 pear shaped, with an ashy greenish ground and boldly dashed and 

 spotted with umber. 



HABITS. 



This wader is known among gunners in different parts of the country 

 by various names. Perhaps the more common are Short-billed and 

 Jack Curlew. These birds are less common than the larger and longer 

 billed Curlew and not nearly so numerous as the smaller Esquimaux 

 Curlew. They are also deemed to be more wary. They are a great 

 deal more often met with in the interior than on the sea coast, frequent- 

 ing marshy ponds in preference to more open bodies of water. 



Especially does this apply during the breeding season. During the 

 winter flocks of ten or twelve individuals may be met with occasionally 

 along the coast, although more often there will be but two or three 

 individuals among a flock of some other species of waders. As they 

 are exceedingly good eating they are persistently hunted during the 

 season. Although exceedingly shy they are very easily decoyed by a 

 clever imitation of their wliistle. Their flight during migrations is 

 generally accomplished in the form of a wedge. They always alight 

 facing the wind, especially if it should be blowing at a good rate, so if 

 their flight happens to be with the wind they will fly past their 

 intended alighting place and swooping up into the wind drop gently 

 down to the ground with upstretched wings. They are excellent swim-' 

 mers and frequently get beyond their depth while wading for food. 



In winter they feed chiefly on small crabs, worms and minute Crus- 

 tacea. In summer they add to this diet numerous insects and various 

 kinds of buds and berries. Their call is uttered while on the wing and 



