25 
NUMENIUS. CURLEW. 
Generic Character. 
Rostrum longissimum, gra- 
cile, teretiusculum, incur- 
vum, subobtusura : mandi- 
bula superiore lateratim 
sulcata, apice dilatato, 
laeve. 
Nares lineares ad basin ros- 
tri in sulco breve sitae. 
Facies pennis tecta. 
Pedes tetradactyli ; dtgiti an- 
teriores basi membrana 
connexa: polle.v apice in 
tcrram insistente. 
Beak very long, slender, 
rounded, incurved, and 
rather obtuse: the upper 
mandible laterally sulca- 
! ted, its tip dilated and 
smooth. 
Nostrils linear, placed in a 
short groove at the base of 
the beak. 
Face clothed with feathers. 
Feet four-toed ; the antei-ior 
toes connected by a mem- 
i brane at the base, the 
I Jiinder toe resting on the 
; ground at its tip only. 
NUMENIUS. Rai., Briss., Lath., Cuv., Vieil. 
SCOLOPAX. Linn., Gmel. 
The Curlews are distinguished from the former 
genus by having their beak more slender, and rounded 
its whole length : their nostrils are placed in a small 
and shortened groove ; and the tip of their upper 
mandible extends beyond that of the lower. They 
affect dry and sandy situations in the vicinity of 
