SANDPIPERS 



(264) Numenius americanus 



Bcch. 



(Gr., new moon — from the crescent shape 

 of the bill). 



LONG-BILLED CURLEW; BIG 

 CURLEW; SICKLE-BILL. Bill ex- 

 ceedingly long and much decurved. 

 Little difference between summer 

 and winter plumages. General tone 

 a rich buff, similar to that of the 

 Marbled Godwit. L., 24.00; Ex., 

 38.00; W., 11.00; Tar., 3.20; B., 

 from 4.00 to 8.00. Nest — A grass- 

 lined hollow on the ground; three 

 or four greenish-buff eggs, covered 

 evenly with small blackish spots. 



Range — Breeds from Tex. and 

 northern Cal. north to Sask. and 

 B. C. Winters from southern U. S. 

 southward. Casually north to Mass. 

 during migrations. Formerly bred 

 on the South Atlantic coast. 



line, he will make a wide detour over the water, greeting with 

 a cheery whistle any of his kind that he passes. In spite 

 of their numerous pauses for salutations as they run along 

 the edge of the water or follow the furrow of a plow, they 

 find time to gather quantities of insects. 



Their nests are built on the ground anywhere within a 

 hundred yards or so of their favorite pools; sometimes in 

 patches of weeds near the water's edge; again in fields border- 

 ing cultivated land; or in tufts of grass in pine groves. 

 Wherever located, it is artfully concealed, and still better 

 hidden by the skill of the female in leading an intruder away. 

 If discovery seems unavoidable, the sitting bird will run 

 across the path of the intruder, whining, with wings dragging 

 on the ground, and giving an excellent impression of a badly 

 wounded bird. It is an artifice that seldom fails in causing 

 reptile, man, or beast to follow her in a vain attempt to 

 capture, only to be foiled when she considers that her treas- 

 ures are safe. Little sandpipers are prettily clothed in soft 

 gray and white down, with a few black stripes. Soon after 



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