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The Rev. Canon Tristram has kindly forwarded us the following note : — 



" Numenius tenuirostris I shot twice in the Tunisian region. It is there very abundant in 

 winter, in large flocks, and as wild as a Curlew. What becomes of it in summer I cannot say. 

 I never was out a day, even as late as June, without putting up flocks, but always out of shot. 

 I believe they were all of this species, as I did not get the Whimbrel. In Greece and Palestine 

 I continually saw large flocks of a small Curlew, but cannot say of which species." 



" In the Eegency of Tunis," writes Mr. Salvin, " on more than one occasion, I saw a flock 

 of these Curlews, and on an undulating plain near El Djan succeeded in shooting one." 



The following notes are taken from Captain Loche's work : — 



" We found the Slender-billed Curlew on the shores in Algiers, early in September, in pairs 

 or small families, very shy. Their food consisted of insects, worms, and small mollusks. Their 

 cry, which they utter either when on the wing or when sitting, is soft and monotonous. We 

 also found it in the south of Algeria, near the lakes, the sebkhra, and chotts, especially near 

 Saida, at the end of February, and suppose that it breeds in this country. It breeds in Egypt, in 

 the marshes amongst the grass, laying four or five eggs, white or yellowish white, with irregular 

 spots and blotches of a brown or ash colour, more numerous towards the larger end, measuring 

 about 55 millims. by 40 millims." 



The following observations are from the pen of Mr. C. A. Wright, of Malta. Writing about 

 the occurrence of the Whimbrel and Slender-billed Curlew, he observes : — 



" These two birds are often confounded together, and are indiscriminately called by the 

 Maltese sportsmen Gurlin sekond and Gurlin terz. They arrive at the same seasons as the 

 Common Curlew. I have shot five or six specimens of If. tenuirostris at different times, and 

 examined many others obtained in the market. It is certainly the commonest of the three. I 

 cannot agree with Dr. Bree's opinion that there can be any question regarding the specific 

 difference between If. pliceopus and If. tenuirostris. As far as my observations extend, the dif- 

 ference between the two species is distinct and constant ; and the points in which they differ are 

 clearly laid down by Degland, and entirely correspond with my own experience. The variations 

 observable in the size and length of the bill should not present any difficulty, as the same occur 

 in the common species, N. arguatus, and doubtless arise from difference of age and sex. I gain 

 confidence in this opinion on reading a letter from Sir William Jardine to Dr. Leith Adams, 

 which has been kindly placed at my disposal. The remarks contained in this letter are so much 

 to the purpose that I shall make no apology for giving them here. Referring to some specimens 

 of the Slender-billed Curlew sent to him from Malta by Dr. Adams and myself, Sir William 

 Jardine says: — 



" ' You may rest perfectly satisfied about If. tenuirostris. I have not seen Dr. Bree's remarks, 

 but there is no doubt about the distinction. I have compared Whimbrels from a great many 

 localities, and they agree very well together ; and I have type specimens of If. tenuirostris from 

 the Prince of Canino, which are identical with the birds I examined and now have from you. 

 The nearest state of the Whimbrel to If. tenuirostris is the male in breeding-plumage. This I 

 have, killed in May ; but it is easily distinguished by strength of bill, head-markings, and tail. 

 Of course, in both the kinds you have, the bills differ in length, thickness, and strength, as in 

 the Curlew,.' " 



