SHORE BIRDS 



264. Long-billed Curlew. 



Numeiiius americanus. 



Range. — Breeds in the South Atlantic states 

 and northward In the interior to Manitoba and 

 British Columbia. 



This is the largest of the family of shore birds, 

 having a length of about 24 inches. Its plumage 

 is of a buffy color, much variegated above with 

 black and brown; the bill is strongly curved down- 

 ward and is from four to eight inches in length. 

 Their nests are located on the ground in meadows 



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Greenisli buff. 



or on the prairies, and three or four eggs are laid, 

 of a buff or greenish buff color, covered with 

 numerous spots of brownish black. Eggs of the 

 common Curlew of Europe, have been very fre- 

 quently used as belonging to this species, but the 

 eggs of our species have a lighter and more 

 greenish ground, and the spots are smaller and 

 more numerous. Size, 2.50 x l.SO. 



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Long-billed Curlew. 



Hudwonian Curlew. 



265. HuDsoNiAN Curlew. Numenius hudsonicus. 



Range. — Whole of North America, breeding in the Arctic regions and win- 

 tering south of the United States. 



This species is smaller (length 

 17 inches), darker, more grayish 

 and has a shorter bill than the pre- 

 ceding species. It also has white 

 median and lateral stripes on the 

 top of the head. The nesting hab- 

 its are the same as those of the 

 Long-billed species: the three or 

 four eggs have a brownish burf 

 ground color and are blotched with 

 blackisli brown. Size 2.25 x 1.60. 

 Data. — McKenzie Uiver, Arctic 

 America. Nest a pile of grass, 

 moss and weeds on an island in 

 the river. 



Brownish buff: 



159 



