SLENBBE'BILLED CUBLEW. 5 



resembles N. arquata, but is easily distinguisbed by its smaller 

 dimensions — by a more slender beak — by the base of tbe neck, and 

 by tbe axillary featbers being wbite; but, as Bonaparte bas justly 

 noticed, this is not tbe principal distinctive character, as these feathers 

 in N. arquata are sometimes white without spots. In all parts of 

 Italy this species is met with; but while it is only a bird of passage 

 and rather rare in the northern parts, in the central and southern 

 parts it is common, and passes the winter there. This is the same 

 in Venetia. In Tuscany it is an irregular bird of passage in May, 

 in some years plentiful, in others scarce. During the winter it is 

 common in Sardinia and Komano. In Sicily and in Malta it is the 

 most common species in that season." 



Bonaparte (Fauna Italica) says: — "It is most common in the low 

 meadows along the Tiber, but less so than N. arquata. It is much 

 more frequent than N. phceopus, and remains with us a longer time. 

 The habits of this bird and the Curlew are similar. They are very 

 vigilant. They live in the same low meadows on banks of rivers and 

 shores of the sea. They live upon worms and insects. They run 

 rapidly, and fly in flocks, which spread largely, and rise to a great 

 height with a powerful flight. They then drop on to the ground, 

 but take flight at the least suspicion. They are taken in the meadows 

 they frequent in nets. The note of this bird is similar to that of the 

 Curlew, but briefer, shorter, and more frequently repeated, but more 

 acute. It does not appear to have ever bred in Italy." 



Of its occurrence in Malta, Mr. Wright says, in a private letter, 

 — "It arrives here on migrations in the spring and autumn;' in both 

 seasons I have shot it on Fort Manuel Island, whose low and muddy 

 shores form one of the most attractive resorts for waders of all kinds 

 during their passage. It also passes with others of the Scolopacidm 

 in July. I have noticed considerable variation in the size and length 

 of the bill, (doubtless arising from age.) All those I have shot were 

 single birds, but they are also sometimes observed to pass in flocks." 



They nest in meadows and heaths. They make a slight excavation, 

 which they line with pieces of grass and a little moss. They lay 

 from three to four eggs. These eggs are, according to Degland, "of 

 a milky white, or white, shaded with yellow, marked with brown dots 

 and irregular spots of brown and ash-colour, larger and more 

 numerous at the greater end. In some the spots are confluent." 

 Great diameter five centimetres and a half, (about two inches and a 

 fifth;) smaller diameter three centimetres seven millemetres to three 

 centimetres eight millemetres, (about one inch and a fifth.) 



The adult male has the upper plumage brown; the feathers on the 



