102 



Distinctions. In well grown specimens the extreme length of bill (6 inches) of tliis 

 species is diagnostic, but, as in nmnerous other species showing great specialization or 

 size, growth continues for some time after apparent maturity alid this feature is unreliable 

 as sole guide. The crown, axillars, and primary characters, however, make good criteria 

 for the Curlews. In this species the crown is dark, evenly spotted with light without 

 aggregation into a median Une, and the inner vanes of the primaries are marked with 

 saw-tooth figures of dark on a light buff ground. The axiUars are solidly coloured without 

 bars. 



Field Marks. For recognition as a Curlew see previous page- The Curlews cannot 

 be separated in life with absolute certainty. 



Distribution. Breeds in the prairie provinces and well to the south. It is recorded 

 originally as a more or less common migrant on the Atlantic coast north to the Maritime 

 Provinces, but does not occiu- there now; also recorded from the Great Lakes region 

 but without supporting evidence. The general confusion of this with the Hudsonian 

 Ciirlew is responsible for many known misidentifications and the species should in future 

 only be recorded in eastern Canada upon the conclusive evidence of specimens. 



265. Hudsonian Curlew, fk. — lb coublis de la baib d'hudson. NumenixLS hud- 

 sonicus. L, 17. A smaller Curlew than the last, but larger than the next. Of same 

 general coloration, but the Hudsonian less buffy than the Long-biUed, the underparts 

 being dull creamy; see Curlew heading, previous page. 



Distindions. Often diagnosed as the Long-biUed, but can be easily distinguished 

 from the other Curlews by the pronounced median stripe on the crown, instead of uni- 

 formly distributed spots, combined with the saw-tooth marks on the inner webs of the 

 primaries, and the barrm axiUars. 



Field Marks. For recognition as Curlews see Curlew, previous page. Curlews 

 cannot be easily separated in life with certainty, but size and length of bill may help. 

 This is the only species likely to be met with in eastern Canada. 



Distribution. Breeds in the northwestern Arctic. Migrates down the Pacific coast, 

 and across the continent to the Atlantic where it is more common than in the interior. 

 A regular though not abvmdant migrant in the Great Lakes region. 



This is the only Curlew of which we have any satisfactory evidence on 

 the lower Great Lakes. It has learned fr(^m experience to be a wild and 

 wary bird, and as it now occurs in numbers only in the extreme east not 

 very many are taken. 



266. Eskimo Curlew, fr. — le couhlis du nord, corbiqeau des Esquimaux. 

 Numenius borealis. L, 13-50. The smallest of the Curlews. Of same general coloration 

 as the Hudsonian. 



Distinctions. Easily separated from either of the other Curlews by its smaller size 

 and plain unmarked primaries, though the axiUars are barred as in the Hudsonian, and 

 the crown evenly spotted, without median stripe, as in the Long-billed. 



Field Marks. See preceding species. This bird is, however, too rare nowadays for 

 eyesight record. 



Distribution. Breeds on the barren grounds of the Mackenzie district. Migrates in 

 autumn across to Labrador and then down the coast. In spring it ascends the Mississippi 

 valley. 



Very close to extinction. Whether or not ill-regulated shooting was 

 the chief cause of its great reduction in numbers, for old accounts speak of 

 immense flocks, it was certainly contributory. This is another -case of 

 disappearance coming before reahzation of the necessity of protection and 

 the apparent or thrieatened loss of a species that can never be replaced. 



FAMILY CHARADRIIDjE. PLOVER. 



General Description. Plover are rather more stoutly and compactly built than the 

 Snipe-like birds. Their bills are shorter, soft at the base, but ending in a hard, horny tip, 

 (Figure 24, p. 22). Hind toe lacking in all species except Black-beUied (p. 103) in which it 

 is very small and almost rudimentary. 



