24 



LONG-BILLED CURLEW. 



may sometimes be enticed within gunshot, while the cries of the 

 wounded are sure to detain them until the gunner has made re- 

 peated shots and great havoc among them. 



This species is said to breed in Labrador, and in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Hudson^s Bay. A few instances have been known of 

 one or two pair remaining in the salt marshes of Cape May all 

 summer. A person of respectability informed me, that he once 

 started a Curlew from her nest, which was composed of a little dry 

 grass, and contained four eggs, very much resembling in size and 

 color those of the Mud Hen, or Clapper Rail. This was in the 

 month of July. Cases of this kind are so rare, that the northern 

 regions must be considered as the general breeding place of this 

 species. 



The Long-billed Curlew is twenty-five inches in length, and 

 three feet three inches in extent, and when in good order weighs 

 about thirty ounces; but individuals differ greatly in this respect; 

 the bill is eight inches long, nearly straight for half its length, 

 thence curving considerably downwards to its extremity, where it 

 ends in an obtuse knob that overhangs the lower mandible; the 

 color black, except towards the base of the lower, where it is of a 

 pale flesh color; tongue extremely short, differing in this from the 

 Snipe ; eye dark ; the general color of the plumage above is black, 

 spotted and barred along the edge of each feather w ith pale brown; 

 chin, line over the eye and round the same, pale brownish white; 

 neck reddish brown, streaked with black; spots on the breast more 

 sparingly dispersed; belly, thighs and vent pale plain rufous, with- 

 out any spots ; primaries black on the outer edges, pale brown on 

 the inner, and barred with black; shaft of the outer one snowy; 

 rest of the wing pale reddish brown, elegantly barred with undu- 

 lating lines of black; tail slightly rounded, of an ashy brown, beau- 

 tifully marked with herring-bones of black; legs and naked thighs 

 very pale light blue or lead color, the middle toe connected with 

 the two outer ones as far as the first joint by a membrane, and bor- 



