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In Asia there is a small Curlew, several specimens of which were sent over by Messrs. 

 Dybowski and Parvex, who obtained them in Dauria; and we are indebted to our friend 

 M. Jules Verreaux for the opportunity of examining and comparing them with skins of 

 N. borealis. This small Asiatic species (Numenius minor, Schl.) is very closely allied to the 

 Esquimaux Curlew, but is much smaller in size. In treating of the Curlews as a family, we give 

 full particulars as to the geographical range of this as well as the other species. 



Regarding the habits of the Esquimaux Curlew, we again quote our friend Dr. Elliott Coues, 

 who, in the letter above referred to, writes that " it is no exaggeration to say that I have had 

 many thousands of these birds under my eye at once ; and I saw great numbers every day in 

 Labrador, from the 16th of August until towards the end of the month, when they disappeared 

 as suddenly as they arrived, in both cases flying swiftly in flocks of immense extent. Audubon 

 noted a different period — from the end of July until the middle of August ; and he accounted 

 (correctly, I think) for their stay in this country ' by the density of the mists and the heavy gales 

 that already gave intimation of the approaching close of summer; for whenever the weather 

 cleared up a little, thousands of them set off and steered in a straight course across the broad 

 Gulf of St. Lawrence. On the contrary, when the wind was high, and the fogs thick, they flew 

 swiftly and low over the rocky surface of the country, as if bewildered.' Their mode of depar- 

 ture, as I witnessed it, was much as Wilson describes. Just before they all left, they were to 

 be seen, mostly very high in the air, in straggling flocks of extended front, moving directly 

 southward. 



" Though the Curlews flock at this season in bands of every size, it is not ordinarily prac- 

 ticable to shoot many at one discharge ; they fly too loosely — excepting perhaps when they wheel, 

 and, closing somewhat together, offer a more favourable opportunity to the gunner. The ordinary 

 flight is firm, regular, and direct, with uninterrupted wing-beats: when skimming down to alight, 

 however, they hold the wings stiffly expanded, recurved, and motionless for a little distance ; as 

 they touch the ground the wings are raised almost perpendicularly with a peculiarly graceful 

 movement, and then slowly folded, as if the bird were very particular about getting them set 

 precisely even. They have a clear, mellow whistle, often sounded several times in succession : it 

 is readily imitated ; and the mimicry may be successfully employed to allure a passing flock 

 within range. When, as often occurs, the whole of a large band is whistling together, the con- 

 fusion of sound has a very peculiar effect. Wounded birds, pursued or captured, have a harsh 

 scream of terror and pain. Considering their vast numbers, they were not so readily bagged as 

 might have been expected ; a few dozen would represent a good morning's operations. I found 

 that skulking pursuit of the feeding flocks was not nearly so advantageous as the simpler and 

 easier method of lying in wait for passing troops in some sheltered spot between good feeding- 

 grounds ; for when not migrating they fly low and are readily knocked over — while, moreover, 

 they cling pertinaciously to particular spots where food is plenty, as if aware that they must by 

 generous living put themselves in good trim for their long journey. Their principal and favourite 

 food at this season is the purplish black berries of the Empetrum, which covers the ground of the 

 region : not only the bill and feet, but parts of the plumage, and the whole alimentary canal, 

 are usually found stained purplish with the juice of this fruit. They also eat a small univalve 

 that adheres to the seaweedy rocks in astonishing profusion ; and with such abundance of pro- 



