OF IfOETHTJiTBEEIAJS^I) AKD DTJEHAM. 101 



Familt. SCOLOPACID^, Vigors. 

 105. NUMENIUS, Moehring, 



12. CtnsLEW. ISr. AEQXJATA, {Lmnceus.) 



Numenius arquata, Bewick, Hist. Brit. Birds, Ed. 1847, II., 68. 

 Yarrell, Hist. Brit. Bii'ds, Ed. 2, II., 577. 



The Curle-w is a resident, common on all marshy moorlands 

 and grassy wastes, but less abundant in Durham than in I^orth- 

 umberland. It frequently bred at Prestwick Car, and I once 

 took its eggs at Blagdon : this was on the 14th of May, 1857. 

 It remains with us the whole year, and in winter frequents the 

 sea coast, where it is occasionally seen also in summer. 



The sexes do not differ in plumage. The young before the 

 iii'st moult arc a little warmer in colour, and have the pale mar- 

 gins of the feathers wider than the adult. 



13. Whimbrel. N. ph^opus, {Linnaus.) 



Numenius pJicrojnis, Bewick, Hist. Brit. Birds, Ed. 1847, II., 70. 

 Yarrell, Hist. Brit. Birds, Ed. 2, II., 583. 



An autumn or winter visitant, arriving on our shores in August 

 and September, and departing in spring. During its sojourn with 

 us it seldom leaves the coast, where it is not uncommon in small 

 flocks of rarely more than four or five. 



The young before moulting are more clearly and strongly 

 marked over the whole of the upper parts than the adult, and 

 the bill is a little shorter. 



106. LIMOSA, Bvisson. 



14. Black-taheb Godwit. L. ^gocephala, (Linnceics.) 

 Limosa melamira, Bewick, Hist. Brit. Birds, Ed. 1847, II., 113. 



„ „ Yarrell, Hist. Brit. Birds, Ed. 2, II., 634. 



A rare casual visitant. One in my collection was shot, in 

 1831, at Prestwick Car, and is in summer plumage. Another, 

 shot at the same place, on the 23rd of September, 1846, is also 



