SCOLOPACIDA): CURLEWS. 645 
643. N. longiros'tris. (Lat. longus, long; rostrwm, beak.) LoNG-BILLED CURLEW. SICKLE-BILL. 
644, 
645, 
Bill of extreme length and curvature, measuring from 4 to 6 or § inches. Of largest size: length 
24.00 or more ; extent 38.00; wing 10.00-12.00; tail about 4.00; tarsus 2.75-3.50. Plumage 
very similar to that of the godwit, Limosa fada: prevailing tone rufous, of varying intensity 
in different specimens, usually deepest on the lining of the wings, which are little varied with 
other color. Primaries varied with rufous. Top of head variegated with blackish and rufous 
or whitish, without distinct pale median and lateral lines. Upper parts brownish-black, 
speckled with tawny or cinnamon-brown, each feather having several indentations or broken 
bars of this color; rufous prevailing on wing-coverts. Tail-feathers and secondaries cinnamon- 
brown, with pretty regular dark bars throughout. Under parts rufous or cinnamon of varying 
intensity, usually deepening to chestnut under the wings, fading to whitish on throat; the 
jugulum and fore-breast with dusky streaks which tend on the sides of breast and body to arrow- 
heads or more or less complete bars ; lining of wings, axillars, and crissuin, mostly unmarked, 
though some spats may appear. No white on rump, tail, or wings. Bill black, much of under 
mandible pale-flesh-color or yellowish ; legs dark. Little variation in plumage with sex, age, 
or season. Chicks hatch in whitish down, thickly blotched above with brownish-black; the 
bill straight, an inch long. Like other exceptional developments of parts of birds, this member 
grows to indetermi- 
nate length. Up to 
the time it is not over 
3 or 4 inches long, 
the species may be ~ 
distinguished from NV. 
hudsonicus by the 
strong rufescence of 
the under parts, which 
are nearly clear of 
dark markings. En- 
tire temperate N. 
Am.; breeds nearly 
throughout its range ; 
migratory northward, 
resident in the south, 
but also 8. in winter 
to C. Am.; uncom- 
mon in New England. 
Nests aboundingly on 
the S. Atlantic coast, and on the prairies of the Northwest. Eggs 3-4, not very pear-shaped, 
more like hen’s eggs; 2.45 to 2.80 long by 1.80-1.90 broad; clay-colored, tending either to 
darker olivaceous shades or to buff; spotting generally pretty uniform and of small pattern, 
in some cases blotched or massed at the greater end, of sepia, chocolate, or umber-brown, the 
paler shell-markings usually numerous and evident. 
N. phe/opus. (Gr. dais, phaios, dusky, swarthy; mois, pous, foot.) EUROPEAN WHIMBREL. 
In stature and general character resembling the Hudsonian curlew ; at once distinguished from 
that species by the white rump, upper-tail coverts and lining of wings, spotted or barred with 
dusky. An extensively distributed Old World species, only N. American as occurring in 
Greenland. 
N. hudson/icus. (Of Hudson’s Bay. Fig. 452.) Hupsonian Curtew. Jack CurLEew. Of 
medium size; bill moderate in length, stout, curved. Bill 3 or 4 inches long. Length 16.00- 
18.00 ; extent 32.00; wing 9.00-10.00; tail 3.50 ; tarsus 2.25-2.50. General tone of coloration 
Fig. 452. — Hudsonian Curlew, much reduced. (From Lewis.) 
