FAM. XXXIX. SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. 249 



27. Long-billed Curlew (264. Num&nius longirdstris). — A very- 

 large, long-legged, much-mottled, dark-brown-backed, shore bird, 

 with buffy under parts, and a sickle-like, downwardly curved, 

 exceedingly long bill. The head and neck are peculiarly streaky. 

 These birds, though mainly found along muddy shores and on 

 grassy meadows, are known to live and breed in upland regions 

 at a distance from water. (Sickle-bill.) 



Length, 20-26; wing, lOJ (10-11 J) ; tail, 4; tarsus, 3; culmen, 2> 

 (young), 51-8^ (adult). United States; breeding north to the South 

 Atlantic States (casually to New England), and in the interior to Mani- 

 toba, and wintering from the Gulf States to the West Indies. 



28. Hudsonian Curlew (265. Numiniushudsdnicus). — A large, 

 common, much-mottled, generally brownish, shore bird, with 

 whitish belly, 



and a long, sickle- 

 like, downwardly 

 curved, slender bill. 

 This is a smaller, 

 but more common 

 bird than the last, 

 and has similar 

 habits and fre- 

 quents like places. 

 (Jack Curlew.) 



Length, 16-18; 

 wing, 9i (H-in|) ; tail, 

 ■Si ; tarsus, 2} ; culmen. 



Hudsonian Curlew 



-4. America; breeding in the Arctic regions, 

 and wintering mainly south of the United States. 



29. Eskimo Curlew (266. MimMius horehlis). — A large, 

 slender-billed, long-legged, much-mottled, brownish curlew, 

 with a decidedly curved bill like the last two species. The 

 under parts are buffy, with a darker and very streaky breast. 

 This, the smallest of the curlews, is more abundant in the 

 interior, and frequents dry uplands and fields in preference to 

 muddy shores. It often appears in great flocks on the western 

 prairies. (Small Curlew ; Dough-bird ; Fute.) 



