THE MARBLED GODWIT. 565 



Nuttall says : "From the middle of August to the beginning of September, they arrive in 

 the vicinity of Massachusetts Bay, and other parts of New England, frequenting the pastures 

 as well as marshes, and fatten on grasshoppers and berries, till the time of their departure, 

 about the close of September, and they wholly disappear from New Jersey, on their way to 

 the South, early in the month of November. 



The Esquimaux Curlew {Numenius borealis). This species inhabits the middle and 



, northern portions of America. Supposed not to be found north of the Rocky Mountains. It 



breeds within the Arctic Circle, and is migratory through the United States, where it seldom 



winters, and never breeds. It migrates in immense numbers through the Missouri region, in 



May. Flocks of from fifty to several hundreds are seen at such times on the prairies. 



Dr. Coues' delightful description we will quote : — 



"The Curlews associate in flocks of every size, but they generally fly in so loose and 

 straggling a manner, that it is rare to kill more than half a dozen at a shot. When they wheel, 

 however, in any of their many beautiful evolutions, they close together in a more compact 

 body. Their flight is Arm, direct, very swift, when necessary much protracted, and is per- 

 formed with regular, rapid beats. They never sail, except when about to alight, when t'he 

 wings are much incurved downward, in the manner of most waders. As their feet touch the 

 ground, their long, pointed wings are raised over the back until the tips almost touch, and 

 then deliberately folded, much in the manner of the solitary sandpiper. Their note is an 

 often-repeated, soft, mellow, though clear, whistle, which may be easily imitated. . . . When in 

 very extensive flocks, they have a note which, when uttered by the whole number, I can com- 

 pare to nothing but the chattering of a lot of blackbirds. When wounded and taken in hand, 

 they emit a very loud, harsh scream, like that of a common hen under such circumstances. 

 Curlews are most excellent eating, and are favorite game. This bird is called by the gunners 

 of the seacoast, Short-billed Curlew. It was once thought to be the same as the English 

 Whimbrel. Wilson says that the Esquimaux Curlew arrives in large flocks on the seacoast 

 of New Jersey, early in May. They are commonly seen on the mud-flats, in company with 

 other waders, and at high water roam along the marshes. They fly high, and with great 

 rapidity. A few are seen in June and as late as the beginning of July, when they generally 

 move off to the South. Their appearance on those occasions is very interesting. They collect 

 together from the marshes, as if by premeditated design, rise to a great height in the air, 

 usually about an hour before sunset, and forming one vast line, keep up a constant whistling 

 on their way to the North, as if conversing with one another. Their flight is then more 

 regular, presenting a beautiful spectacle. This bird is eighteen inches in length, and thirty- 

 two inches in extent of wing. The bill is four inches and a half long." 



A species, called the Bkistled-thighed Curlew {Numenius tahatiensis), is found as a 

 straggler in Alaska. The Numenius phceopsis is casual, according to several records, in 

 Eastern North America. 



At first sight the Whimbrel looks something like a diminutive curlew, save that the bill 

 is not so long, so thick, nor so sharply curved as in the preceding species. On account of this 

 resemblance it is in some places known by the name of Half-Curlew, and in others it is called 

 the Jack Curlew, or by the popular name of Tang-Whaap. 



Two species of Godwits are known in Europe, the Common, or Bar-tailed, and the 



' Black-tailed God wit. These birds may be known from each other by the peculiarity from 



which they derive their name, the one species being distinguished by the uniform black hue 



of the latter two-thirds of the tail, and the other by the brown and gray bars which cross the 



tail-feathers. 



The Marbled Godwit (Limosa fceda) is found in all parts of the sea-coast of temperate 

 North America. Central and South America, and the West Indies. Dr. Coues says: "The 



