1 84 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 



freshwater insects and the fruit of Empetrum mgrum. On the 

 13th June, 1822, I found one of these curlews hatching on three 

 eggs on the shore of Point Lake. {Richardson) 



This species breeds abundantly in the Barren Grounds to the 

 eastward of Fort Anderson — and, except when otherwise described, 

 these are the " Barrens" which are invariably referred to, right up 

 to the Polar Sea. The nests, in every obseived instance, were 

 mere holes or depressions in the ground. Great difficulty was 

 frequently experienced in finding them, as the eggs closely re- 

 sembled the surrounding vegetation, and the bird glided off 

 while we were still at some distance. Thirty sets of eggs were 

 gathered, including several from the aforesaid Lower Anderson 

 " Barrens." {Macfarlane.) 



MUSEUM SPECIMENS. 



Two specimens of this species, said to have been taken on 

 Toronto Island, Ontario, in 1864. They were purchased with the 

 Holman collection. 



267. Whimbrel. 



Numevius phmopus (Linn.) Lath. 1787. 



Nearly a dozen examples sent from all parts of Greenland have 

 been received at Copenhagen. Although Holbcell doubts its 

 doing so. Prof. Reinhardt thinks that this species may breed in 

 Greenland. (Arct. Man) An example of. this species was shot 

 near Assuk, Greenland, on May 25th, 1885. {Hagerup) Winge 

 believes that this species may sometimes breed in Greenland and 

 cites many instances of its having been taken in recent years. 



268. Bristle-thighed Curlew. 



Numenius tahitiensis (Gmel.) Ridgw. 1880. 



On May 24th, 1880, a pair of these birds settled near by, where 

 I was shooting black brant, on a rising stretch of land covered 

 with large tussocks. I secured the male, which wa^ in fine plu- 

 mage, but could not find the female, although mortally wounded. 

 This is the second known instance of this bird's occurrence on 

 the shores of Alaska, the former record resting on the capture of 

 a specimen at Kadiak Island by Bischoff. {Nelson) 



