NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 151 



breeding nearly throughout its range. It is migratory northward and is resident 

 from the Carolinas south to Mexico. It nests very abundantly on the South Atlantic 

 coast, and on the prairies of the interior and the Northwest. Unlike others of its 

 genus it is not a bird of high latitude. The eggs of the. Long-billed Curlew are three 

 or four in number; and almost exactly resemble those of the Willet, but are larger, 

 measuring from 2.45 to 2.80 in length by 1.80 to 1.90 in breadth; they are, however, 

 more of a pyriform shape than the eggs of the Willet. In common with other 

 waders the eggs are deposited on the ground in a slight hollow lined with a few 

 grasses. This Curlew may be known from all others by its large size and very long, 

 curved bill, measuring from four to six or eight inches. It may sometimes breed at 

 St. Mary's Reservoir, in Mercer county, and other localities of Northwestern Ohio, 

 as it is known to breed In Northern Illinois. 



265. HUSSONIAIT CtTBLEW. Nvmenius hudsonicus Lath. Geog. Dist.— 

 North and South America and West Indies. Breeds in the far north; winters chiefly 

 south of the United States. 



The American Whimbrel, Short-billed, or Jack Curlew, as this bird is variously 

 called, is not so abundant as the Long-billed or Eskimo Curlews. It is generally dis- 

 tributed throughout North America, breeding in the far north — in vicinity of ponds 

 and lakes on the Barren Lands of the Arctic regions, the regions of the Anderson 

 River and in various parts of Alaska. Nests like those of the last species. In the 

 United States it is a spring and fall migrant and is often found in company with 

 Godwits, Snipe and others of its tribe. The eggs are ashy-yellow, the markings 

 are large and bold, of different shades of chocolate and umber-brown. The eggs of 

 this species can only be distinguished from those of the following species by 

 their larger size; from 2.12 to 2.30 in length by about 1.60 broad; generally four in 

 number; of the usual pear-shape. 



266. ESKIMO CURLEW. Numenius borealis (Forst). Geog. Dist.— Eastern 

 Province of North America, breeding in the Arctic regions; south in winter to 

 Southern South America. 



The Dougn-bird, or Eskimo Curlew, is found in North America at large and 

 breeds within the Arctic circle. It migrates through the United States, where it is 

 rarely known to winter, and never to summer; wintering in Central and South 

 America. Abundant in certain places during the migrations. In Labrador it is said 

 to fairly swarm in August. Of this bird's nest and eggs Dr. Coues says: "This 

 species breeds in great numbers in the Anderson River region, usually making up 

 its nest complement of four eggs by the third week in June. The nest is generally 

 in an open plain, and is a mere depression of the ground, lined with a few dried 

 leaves or grasses. The eggs vary to the great extent usually witnessed among 

 waders. The ground is olive-drab, tending either to green, gray or brown in dif- 

 ferent instances. The markings, always large, numerous and bold, are of different 

 depths of dark chocolate, bistre and sepia-brown, with ordinary stone-gray shell 

 spots. They always tend to aggregate at the large end, or at least, are more 

 numerous on the major half of the eggs; though in a few instances the distribution 

 Is nearly uniform. Occasionally the butt end of the egg is almost completely occu- 

 pied by confluence of very dark markings. Eggs vary from 1.90x1.40 to 2.12x1.33, 

 averaging about 2.00x1.45."* 



* Birds of the Northwest, p. 512. 



