THE LITTLE WHIMBREL 105 



Suh-f amihj Totanhue, 

 Genus Numenius. 

 Bill strong and long, arched downwards. Legs stout. Tarsus 

 transversely scaled in front, reticulate behind. 



The Curlew. 



Numenius cyanopus. 



East Siberia and Japan to Australia and Tasmania in winter. 



General colour fulvous brown, with longitudinal black centres to 

 the feathers; lower back darker and the axillaries and under wing- 

 eoverts and upper tail-coverts barred. Under surface tinged with buff. 

 The bill is curved, and measures seven inches long. Total length 24 

 inches, eulmen 7.2, wing 12. .5, tail 4.6, tarsus 3.46. 



Nest and eggs undescribed. They breed in Siberia, usually 

 leaving here in the latter end of April. This bird is only found 

 on the sea coasts, and must not be confused with the Stone 

 Plover, also commonly called Curlew in Australia. 



The Whimbrel. 



Numenius variegatus. 



East Siberia to Australia and Tasmania in winter. 



Above nearly uniform dark brown; lower back thickly mottled with 

 bars and spots of brown, and the axillaries with broad bands of brown; 

 tail tipped with white and barred; centre of crown whitish and streaked; 

 breast and sides of body pale buff, with longitudinal streaks; abdomen 

 white. Total length 15 inches, eulmen 3, wing 8.8, tail 3.8, tarsus 2.15. 



They nest in Siberia. 



Genus Mesoscolopax. 

 Bill arched downwards. Tarsus with transverse scales before 

 and behind. 



The Little Whimbrel. 



Mesoscolopax minutus. 



Eastern Siberia to Australia in winter. 



Above blackish, mottled with sandy-buff spots and margins of the 

 feathers; upper tail-coverts barred; tail ashy grey and barred; fore-neck" 

 buff and streaked; centre of breast whitish. Total length 13 inches, 

 eulmen 1.75, wing 7.1, tail 2.85, tarsus 1.8. 



Nest in Siberia, leaving Australia about April. 



