THE ESKIMO CURLEW. 



[Nuntenius borealis.) 



The Eskimo Curlew, or Dough bird, 

 as it is frequently called, has an extensive 

 range covering the entire length of eastern 

 North America. In the United States, it 

 is known, only as a migrant, for it seldom 

 winters within its borders, but passes 

 southward into Central America and 

 throughout South America. As it nests 

 within the Arctic circle it is seldom seen 

 south of the Canadian border during the 

 summer months. The northward mi- 

 gration takes place during the last of 

 April and early in May ; the southward 

 begins about the first of September. Its 

 favorite feeding hours are at the begin- 

 ning and at the close of day, and during 

 its migrations it frequents grassy marshes 

 and neighboring fields where it finds a 

 plentiful supply of insects, earth worms 

 and mollusks. When the Curlews leave 

 their migration feeding grounds in the 

 United States for their nesting localities 

 in the far north, they present a unique 

 appearance as they gather for the journey. 

 Mr. Wilson graphically describes their 

 preparation and flight. He says, "Their 

 appearance on these occasions is very 

 interesting. They collect together from 

 the marshes as if by premediated design, 

 rise to a great height in the air, usually 

 about an hour before sunset, and forming 

 in one vast line, keep up a constant whist- 

 ling on their way to the north as if con- 

 versing with one another tO' render the 

 journey more agreeable. Their flight is 

 ihen more slow and regular so that the 

 feeblest may keep up with the line of 

 march, while the glittering of their beau- 

 tifully speckled' wings, sparkling in the 

 sun, produces altoeether a very pleasing 

 spectacle." Mr. Nuttall says : "They 



are remarkably gregarious, each company 

 seeming to follow some temporary leader, 

 and on starting to fly, a sort of watch- 

 cry is heard, resembling the whistling 

 pronunciation of the word bee-bee." 



While in the North the Curlew's food 

 consists to a great extent of ber- 

 ries, especially the small deep purple 

 berry called the bear or curlew berry. 

 Dr. Coues says that it feeds so extensively 

 upon this berry that the intestine and the 

 "legs, bill, throat and even the plumage 

 are more or less stained with the purple 

 juice." These berries are so abundant 

 that the Curlew becomes exceedingly fat 

 and forms a dainty morsel for the table 

 of the epicure. 



The little Curlew, as the Eskimo Cur- 

 lew, is sometimes designated, very closely 

 resembles the short-billed curlew in the 

 markings of its plumage, but its much 

 smaller size is a ready means of distin- 

 guishing it. It also frequents fields more 

 commonly than the short-billed species. 

 Not infrequently it is found in company 

 with the golden plover during its migra- 

 tions through the interior of the United 

 States. 



In its habits the Curlew quite closely 

 resembles the plover. Mr. Mackay says 

 that "in migration they fly in much the 

 same manner, with extended and broad- 

 side and triangular lines and clusters 

 similar to those of ducks and geese at 

 such times. They usually fly low after 

 landing, sweeping slowly over the ground, 

 apparently looking it over, generally 

 standing motionless for quite a while 

 after alighting, which, owing to thoir 

 general color approximating so closely 

 to the withered grass, renders it difficult 

 at times to perceive them." 



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