LONG-BILLED CURLEW. 
321 
the holes with their long bills ; they also feed on those small sea snails 
so abundant in the marshes, and on various worms and insects. They 
are likewise fond of bramble berries, frequenting the fields and uplands 
in search of this fruit, on which they get very fat, and are then tender 
and good eating, altogether free from the sedgy taste with which their 
flesh is usually tainted while they feed in the salt marshes. 
The Curlews fly high, generally in a wedge-like form, somewhat 
resembling certain Ducks ; occasionally uttering their loud whistling 
note, by a dexterous imitation of which a whole flock may sometimes be 
enticed within gunshot, while the cries of the wounded are sure to 
detain them until the gunner has made repeated shots and great havoc 
among them. 
This species is said to breed in Labrador, and in the neighborhood 
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 lien, or Clap- 
per 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 con- 
siderably downwards to its extremity, where it ends in an obtuse knob 
that overhangs the lower mandible j 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 with 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, without 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 
undulating lines of black ; tail slightly rounded, of an ashy brown, 
beautifully 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 bordered along 
the sides with a thick warty edge ; lining of the wing dark rufous, 
approaching a chestnut, and thinly spotted with black. Male and 
female alike in plumage. The bill continues to grow in length until 
the second season, when the bird receives its perfect plumage. The 
Vol. II.— 21 
