Wayne: Birds of South Carolina. 57 



phus griseus is in full nuptial plumage by April 28, and it is char- 

 acteristic of the males during the months of April and May to 

 soar high in the air with wings "set, ' ' and sing their love song. 



115. Numenius hudsonicus Lath. Hudsonian Curlew. 

 The Hudsonian Curlew arrives by April 1, and remains until 



October 2, but the height of abundance is from the third week 

 in April until the second week in May, and from July 5 or 11 

 until the middle of September. A few birds remain all through 

 June and I have innumerable records showing the presence of 

 the bird even in that month, e.g., June 6, 1895, and June 10, 

 and 26, 1896. Although Audubon has stated 'that he "saw a 

 large flock [of this species] near Charleston, in the month of Decem- 

 ber, " I have yet to observe them on this coast later than October 

 2. 



This species supplanted the Long-billed Curlew between the 

 years 1883 and 1885, for previous to these dates the former 

 species was rare, but it gradually became more abundant each 

 year until it established itself firmly in great numbers. The 

 result was that the Long-billed Curlew was driven from its accus- 

 tomed range by a smaller species, in the struggle for existence. 

 The Long-billed Curlews fed almost entirely upon fiddlers, and 

 the Hudsonian Curlew also subsisted upon them, and as the food 

 supply was inadequate, one species was forced to seek other paths 

 of migration. 



The Hudsonian Curlews pass this coast in multitudes in April 

 and May, and every afternoon for at least five weeks flock after 

 flock may be seen going to the coast islands to spend the night. 



During the spring the notes of this species can be heard almost 

 incessantly while they are feeding or going to and returning 

 from their feeding grounds. 



This species breeds only in the Arctic regions of North America. 



116. Numenius borealis (Forst.). Eskimo Curlew. 



I have never seen this curlew alive, but in the Charleston Mu- 

 seum there were many mounted specimens that were labeled by 

 Dr. Bachman as follows: "South Carolina, Winter." Allofthese 

 specimens were dust-stained and somewhat moth-eaten, and when 

 Dr. Gabriel E. Manigault became curator they, among other 

 birds, were thrown away as trash. 



1 Birds of America, VI, 42. 



