HTFDSOXIAN CUELEW. 509 



contrary, is often seen on extensive dry plains, where it feeds on various 

 molluscs, insects, and berries, which it deftly secures with its extra- 

 ordinarily long bill. The length and curve of this member, measuring 

 sometimes eight or nine inches in length, gives the bird a singular and 

 unmistakable appearance, either in flight or when gathering its food. 

 Its voice is sonorous and not at all musical. During the breeding sea- 

 son, in particular, its harsh cries of alarm resound when the safety of 

 its nest or young is threatened. In the fall, when food is plenty, it be- 

 comes very fat, and affords delicate eating. 



Dr. Newberry found the Curlew quite abundant in the vicinity of San 

 Francisco, and throughout the Sacramento Valley during the autumn 

 and winter, though there were comparatively few in the summer before 

 the rainy season. " In our march," he adds, " through the Sacramento 

 Yalley and northward, we did not meet with it until we came down into 

 the plains bordering Pitt Eiver, above the upper canon. Here we found 

 them in immense numbers, and they formed a valuable addition to our 

 bill of fare. This prairie is entirely covered with water during the wet 

 season, as is proven by the myriads of aquatic shells (Planorbis, Phym, 

 &c.) scattered over the ground in the grass, and as it does not dry up so 

 completely as the other valleys, the Curlews apijarently pass the sum- 

 mer there. Around the Klamath Lakes and others of that group they 

 were abundant in August, and we found them associated with the Geese 

 and other water-birds, which were congregated in countless numbers on 

 the low lands borderfng the Columbia, in October." 



The eggs of the Long-billed Curlew are not often so pyriform as among 

 the smaller waders, being in shape not unlike a hen's eggs. Different 

 specimens measure : 2.45 by 1.85 ; 2.60 by 1.80 ; 2.65 by 1.80 ; 2.70 by 

 1.90 ; 2.80 by 1.90. They are clay-colored, with more or less olivaceous 

 in some instances, and in others decidedly buffy shade. The spotting 

 is generally pretty uniformly distributed and of small pattern, though 

 in many cases there is larger blotching and even massing about the 

 great end. The color of the markings is sepia or umber, of different 

 shades in the buffy-tinged specimens, rather tending to chocolate. The 

 shell-markings are commonly numerous and evident. 



]SrUMEXIUS HUDSONICUS, Lath. 

 Hndsonlan Curlew. 



Scolopax torealis, Gm., Syst. Nat. i, 1788, 654 (not of Forster, 1772).— Wils., Am. Orn. vii. 

 1813, 22, pi. 56, fig. 1. 



Xumenius iorealis, Okd, ed. Wjls. 1825.— Brew., ed. Wils. 1840, 473 (excluding the syn- 

 onymy which, with part of the account, belongs to true lorealia; description, 

 with most of the account, is of Tiuds^nicus). 



Numenim hudaonieua, Lath., Ind. Orn. ii, 1790, 712 (based on Esquimaux Curlew, Arct. 

 Zool. ii, 461, No. 364, pi. 19, and Hudsonian Curlew, Lath., Syn. Suppl. vii, 243) — 

 Bp., Obs. Wils. 1825, No. 201 ; Syn. 1828, 314 ; List, 1838, 49.— Sw. & KiCH., F. B. A. 

 ii, 1831, 377.— NuTT., Man. ii, 1834, 97.— AuD., Orn. Biog. iii, 1835, 283 ; v, 589, pi. 

 237 ; Syn. 1839, 254 ; B. Am. vi, 1843, 42, pi. 356.— GiK., B. L. 1. 1844, 272 — Bd 

 B. N. A. 1858, 744.— Taylor, Ibis, ii, 1860, 313 (Fonseca Bav).— Reinh., Ibis, 

 iii, 1861, 10 (Greenland).— Dkess., ibid. 1866, 40 (Texas).— Salv., ibid. 197 

 (Chiapam, Gnat.).— Wheat., Ohio Agric. Rep. 1860, No. 224.— Coues, Pr. Phila. 

 Acad. 1861, 235 (Labrador).— Boardm., Pr. Bost. Soc. ix, 1862, 129 (Maine, mi- 

 gratory, rare).— Coues, ihid. xii, 1868, 123 (South Carolina, wintering).— Verr., 

 Pr. Ess. Inst, iii, 1862, 1.59 (Maine, migratory, not common). — Allen, ihid. iv, 

 1864, 87 (Massachusetts, migratory, rare).— Coues, ibid, v, 1868, 296 (New En- 

 gland, migratory, rare).- McIlwk., ibid, v, 1866, 93 (Canada West).— Lawr., 

 Ann. Lye. N. Y. viii, 1864, 101 (Sombrero) ; 1866, 294.— ScL. & Salv., P. Z. S. 

 1867, .333 (Chili) ; 1868, 176 (May).— Darw., Voy. Beagle, 129 (Chiloe).— Pklz., 

 Novara Eeise, 128 (Chiloe).— Phil., Cat. 34 (Chili).— Tcrkb., B. E. Pa. 1869, 32 

 (New Jersey, " plentiful ").— Dall & Bans., Tr. Chic, i, 1869, 293 (Alaska).— 



