LONG-BILLED CURLEW. 321 



the holes with their long bills ; they also feed on those small sea snails 

 so abundant in the marshes, and on various worms and insects. They 

 are likewise fond of bramble berries, frequenting the fields and uplands 

 in search of this fruit, on which they get very fat, and are then tender 

 and good eating, altogether free from the sedgy taste with which their 

 flesh is usually tainted while they feed in the salt marshes; 



The Curlews fly high, generally in a wedge-like form, somewhat 

 resembling certain Ducks ; occasionally uttering their loud whistling 

 note, by a dexterous imitation of which a whole flock may sometimes be 

 enticed within gunshot, while the cries of the wounded are sure to 

 detain them until the gunner has made repeated shots and great havoc 

 among them. 



This species is said to breed in Labrador, and in the neighborhood 

 of Hudson's Bay. A few instances have been known of one or two 

 pair remaining in the salt marshes of Cape May all summer. A person 

 of respectability informed me, that he once started a Curlew from her 

 nest, which was composed of a little dry grass, and contained four eggs, 

 very much resembling in size and color those of the Mud Hen, or Clap- 

 per Rail. This was in the month of July. Cases of this kind are so 

 rare, that the northern regions must be considered as the general 

 breeding place of this species. 



The Long-billed Curlew is twenty-five inches in length, and three 

 feet three inches in extent, and when in good order weighs about thirty 

 ounces ; but individuals differ greatly in this respect ; the bill is eight 

 inches long, nearly straight for half its length, thence curving con- 

 siderably downwards to its extremity, where it ends in an obtuse knob 

 that overhangs the lower mandible ; the color black, except towards 

 the base of the lower, where it is of a pale flesh color ; tongue extremely 

 short, difi'ering in this from the Snipe ; eye dark ; the general color of 

 the plumage above is black, spotted and barred along the edge of each 

 feather with pale brown ; chin, line over the eye and round the same, 

 pale brownish white ; neck reddish brown, streaked with black ; spots 

 on the breast more sparingly dispersed ; belly, thighs and vent pale 

 plain rufous, without any spots; primaries black on the outer edges, 

 pale brown on the inner, and barred with black ; shaft of the outer one 

 snowy ; rest of the wing pale reddish brown, elegantly barred with 

 undulating lines of black; tail slightly rounded, of an ashy brown, 

 beautifully marked with herring-bones of black ; legs and naked thighs 

 very pale light blue or lead color, the middle toe connected with the two 

 outer ones as far as the first joint by a membrane, and bordered along 

 the sides with a thick warty edge ; lining of the wing dark rufous, 

 approaching a chestnut, and thinly spotted with black. Male and 

 female alike in plumage. The bill continues to grow in length until 

 the second season, when the bird receives its perfect plumage. The 



Vol. IL— 21 



