72 ESQUIMAUX CURLEW. 



small, second and fourth about equal, third considerably longer. Claws 

 small, compressed, blunt, that of middle toe much longer, curved out- 

 wards, with a sharp dilated inner edge. 



Plumage soft and blended, on the fore part of the head very short. 

 Wings rather long, very acute, narrow, the first quill longest, the second 

 a little shorter, the rest regularly and rapidly graduated ; secondaries 

 short, incurved, rounded, excepting some of the inner, which are greatly 

 elongated and tapering. Tail short, nearly even, of twelve rounded 

 feathers. 



Bill brownish-black, the lower mandible flesh-coloured at the base. 

 Iris dark brown. Feet greyish-blue, claws black. The upper part of 

 the head is brownish-black, streaked with pale yellowish -brown, and ha- 

 ving an indistinct central line of the latter. The back is also brownish- 

 black, marked with numerous spots of light brownish-yellow, there being 

 several along the margin of each feather. Wing-coverts and secondaries 

 of a lighter brown, similarly spotted ; alula, primary coverts and quills 

 unspotted, the shafts of most of the latter pale brown, but of the outer 

 white. Tail pale greyish-brown, with light deep brown bars, and tipped 

 with brownish-white. Sides of the head, and the neck all round, pale 

 yellowish-brown, striped with dark brown ; breast and sides of the same 

 tint, with longitudinal and transverse dark markings. Lower wing- coverts 

 and lower tail-coverts similarly barred ; axillar feathers regularly banded, 

 and of a deeper tint. Abdomen without markings. Throat and a line 

 over the eye nearly white. 



Length to end of tail 14|, to end of wings 14|, to end of claws 16| ; 

 wing from flexure 8|, tail 3^ ; extent of wings 27| ; bill along the 

 back 2|, along the edge 2^ ; tarsus 1^%, middle toe \l, its claw ^|. 

 Weight 1 lb. 



Adult Female. Plate CCVIII. Fig. 2. 



The Female resembles the male, and is scarcely inferior in size. 



