CUR 
' CUNICULUS. A genus of animals- bf the 
lepus or hare kind; in Englifh, the rabbit. 
CuNicuLus Americanus. a name given by 
fome authors to the animal called tapetij a fmall 
fpecies of rabbit. 
CuNicuLus Braziliensis. a fpecies of rab- 
bit called alfo aperea. 
CuNicuLus SiBERicus. The long-tailed Si- 
berian rabbit, the fur of which is highly eftcemed. 
During the fummer months, many of thefe crea- 
tures are beautifully variegated with oblique and 
tranfverfe ftreaks of black and grey. 
CURASSO BIRD. This bird is nearly as large 
as a hen turkey. It's bill is black at the point, 
and covered at the bafis with a yellow (km-, above 
the bill, between the noftrils, there is a round hard 
knob of a yellow colour; and on the head there is 
a creft of long black feathers, which projeft for- 
wards at the points. The whole bird is of a deep 
fliining black colour, reflefting blue and purple 
lhades, except the lower part of the belly and the 
covert-feathers under the tail; and the legs and feet 
are covered with a fcaly flcin of a dark flefh-colour. 
Sloane, in his Hiftory of Jamaica, calls this bird 
the gallus Indicus. 
CURCULIO. A genus of beetles, diftin- 
guifhed by having the antennas affixed to an elon- 
gated corneous fnout. See ScARABy5;us. 
CUR-DOG. This variety of the canine race, 
called alfo the houfe-dog, is about the fize of a fox, 
with upright ears, and a fort of v/oolly hair under 
the tail. But fuch various breeds often propagate 
together, and produce a mongrel tribe, that it is 
impoffible to difcriminate the different fpecies of 
this genus with any degree of accuracy. 
CUREIMA. A fifii of the mullet kind, which 
grows to the length of tv/o feet. It has a very 
iarge moveable upper lip; but the under one is 
-fmaU, of a triangular figure, and fcarcely vifible 
•on accOuiit of it's extraordinary minutenefs. The 
•eyes are large ; and the fins are of a fine filvery white 
colour. In other refpecls, it refembles the com- 
mon mullet. 
CURICACA. A Brazilian bird, called mafa- 
-rino by the Portuguefe. It is nearly as large as 
the goofe, but relembies the curlew in it's fhape. 
The beak is upwards of four inches in length; the 
neck and back are covered with white and yellow 
feadiers; and the whole body is black, except that 
the back, the-head, and the lower parts of the belly, 
have a greyifli cafe. There is another fpecies of 
the Curicaca, but difiiinguifnable from the former 
only by the fmallnefs of it's fize. ■ 
CURIMATA. A name given by fome au- 
thors to the lavaretus. 
CURLEW. A fea-fowl, called alfo arquata 
and numenius, which frequents the coafls during 
the winter feafon ; and retires, at the approach of 
fpring, to the mountains, for the purpofe of fecun- 
dation. 
• The Curlew weighs about twenty-feven ounces; 
it's length, from the top of the bill to the end of 
the claws, is tv/enty-nine inches, but to the end of 
the tail only twenty-three inches and a half; the 
'expanfion of the wings is three feet four inches ; 
the bill is near fix inches long, a little crooked, 
'and of a dark brown colout ; the tongue is fliort; 
the legs are long, bare, and of a duflcy hue; and 
there is. a thick membrane which reaches to the 
<firft joint. The colour is diverfified with afh and 
■ black; and the fiefh is efleemed very delicate by 
fome, while oth,ers confide-r it as rank and fiflny. 
Curlew, Lesser. This fpecies, which is fome- 
timcs called the whimbrel, refembles the former 
in every generic circumftance except it's fize. It's 
length, from the tip of the bill to the extremity of 
the tail, is feVenteen inches ; and it's greateit ex- 
panfion is thirty-three inches and a half. It's bill is 
three inches long; and it's weight is twelve ounces. 
The top of the head is of a dark brown colour, 
without any Ipots; the back, as far as it is covered 
with the Vv/ings, is white, in which circumftance it 
differs from the common Curlew; and the legs are 
greenifh. 
Curlew, Little. The bill of this bird is 
black; the neck and belly are grey; the wings, 
which are mottled with white and brown, have 
three large black feathers on each; and the feet, 
belov/ the knees, are of a dun afli-colour. 
Curlew, Stone. The bill of this bird is 
ftraight, two inches long, black towards the nof- 
trils, and yellow at the point ; and the expanfion of 
the wings is three feet. Under each of the eyes, 
which are yellow, there is a bare fpace, of a yel- 
lowifli green. The breaft, thighs, and chin, are 
a yellowifh white; the middle of the back, the 
head, and the neck, are black, marginated with a 
reddifh afh-colour; on the quill-feathers there are 
tranfverfe v;hite fpots; and fome of the wing-fea- 
thers, which are tipped with white, exhibit a very 
beautiful mottled appearance. The tail, which is 
about fix inches long, is variegated like the wings; 
the legs are long, and of a yellowifh colour; and 
the claws are fmall and black. ■ This bird has 
no hind-toe; and thofe before are united by a fmall 
membrane. It is a native of feveral Englifh coun- 
ties, particularly Norfolk; and is remarkable for 
it's piercing, fht-ill note, which it puts forth in the 
evening. It lays two eggs of a copper colour^ 
it feeds on worms and caterpillars; and it's fleflais 
very delicious. ''q. : ri;'r ■ r! 
Curlew, Brown, of Sonnerat. This fpe- 
cies is about the fize of the European Curlew. The 
plumage is of a rcddifli brown ; the eyes are fur- 
rounded with a naked greenifli fiiin; the bill is 
likewife of a greenifh hue ; the feet are red ; and 
the irides are of a lively fcarlet colour. It is a na- 
tive of the ifle of Lu^on. ■ • . 
Curlew, Speckled, of Sonnerat. This cu- 
rious bird is confiderably larger than the common 
Curlew. The top of the head is black ; the head, 
neck, and breaft, are white, beautifully marked 
with longitudinal white bars; tiie belly is adorned 
with tranfverfe and femicircuiar black bars; the 
lefTer coverts of the wings and the back are of an 
umbre colour, having feveral white fpots on their 
margins ; the larger coverts of the wings are wholly 
black; and the tail is a pale grey, cut by black 
tranfverfal lines. This fpecies likewife inhabits 
the ifle of Lu^on. 
CURTILLA. An appellation given by fome 
naturalifts to the coi"vus fylvaticus of Gefner. 
CURVATAPINIMA. A name fometimes 
given to the fifli more ufually known under that of 
bonito. 
CURUCUI. A bird of the wood-pecker kind, 
found in Brazil. The bill is fliort, broad, and of 
a fulphur colour; the irides are of a golden hue; 
and the legs, which are fliort, are covered with fea- 
thers almoft to tlie feet. The whole breaft and 
lower belly are of a beautiful red ; the upper part 
of the back and the tail are of a fhining green, 
with a varying glofs; the edges of the tail are 
black; and the feathers underneath are white, ele- 
gantly 
