ESQUIMAUX CURLEW. 
323 
different : these reasons have determined its claim to that of an inde- 
pendent species. 
The Short-billed Curlew arrives in large flocks on the seacoast of New 
Jersey early in May from the south ; frequents the salt marshes, muddy 
shores and inlets, feeding on small worms and minute shell-fish. They 
are most commonly seen on mud flats at low water, in company with 
various other waders ; and at high water roam along the marshes. 
They fly high, and with great rapidity. A few are seen in June, and 
as late as the beginning of July, when they generally move off towards 
the north. Their appearance on these occasions is very interesting : 
they collect together from the marshes as if by premeditated design, rise 
to a great height in the air, usually about an hour before sunset, and 
forming in one vast line, keep up a constant whistling on their march to 
the north, as if conversing with one another to render the journey more 
agreeable. Their flight is then more slow and regular, that the feeblest 
may keep up with the line of march, while the glittering of their beauti- 
fully speckled wings, sparkling in the sun, produces altogether a very 
pleasant spectacle. 
In the month of June, while the dewberries are ripe, these birds 
sometimes frequent the fields in company with the Long-billed Curlews, 
where brambles abound, soon get very fat, and are at that time ex- 
cellent eating. Those who wish to shoot them, fix up a shelter of brush- 
wood in the middle of the field, and by that means kill great numbers. 
In the early part of spring, and indeed during the whole time that they 
frequent the marshes, feeding on shell-fish, they are much less esteemed 
for the table. 
Pennant informs us, that they were seen in flocks innumerable on the 
hills about Chatteux Bay, on the Labrador coast, from August the 9th 
to September 6th, when they all disappeared, being on their way from 
their northern breeding place. — -He adds, " they kept on the open 
grounds, fed on the ernpetrum nigrum, and were very fat and delicious." 
They arrive at Hudson's Bay in April, or early in May ; pair and breed 
to the north of Albany Fort among the woods, return in August to the 
marshes, and all disappear in September.* About' this time they return 
in accumulated numbers to the shores of New Jersey, whence they 
finally depart for the south early in November. 
The Esquimaux Curlew is eighteen inches long and thirty-two inches 
in extent ; the bill, which is four inches and a half long, is black to- 
wards the point, and a pale purplish flesh color near the base ; upper 
part of the head dark brown, divided by a narrow stripe of brownish 
white ; over each eye extends a broad line of pale drab ; iris dark 
colored ; hind part of the neck streaked with dark brown, fore part, 
* Phil. Trans. LXIL, 411. 
