SCOLOPACID^E — THE SNIPE FAMILY — NUMENIUS. 
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erecl with water. Near Fort Lapwai this bird breeds on high and dry prairies several 
miles from lake or river. It also breeds in Southern Arizona near Sulphur Springs, 
thirty miles west of Camp Bowie. The eggs are said to vary greatly in shape, size, 
and coloration, even in the same nest, averaging 2.60 by 1.74 inches. These birds 
congregate in large Hocks before migrating, and have all left by the 1st of August. 
They feed chiefly on crickets. 
Lieutenant M’Cauley refers to this species as being generally distributed over 
Kansas, the Indian Territory, and the Bed Kiver Begion of Texas. He found it 
breeding in June, and very clamorous when the nests were approached. 
Mr. Bidgway also met with Curlews which he had no doubt were of this species, 
during the spring and summer, along the Truckee Biver. In the neighborhood of 
Great Salt Lake they were also more or less abundant during the summer, in all the 
wet and grassy places. Several young just hatched were caught near the camp on 
Antelope Island. Mr. J. A. Allen met with a single small colony of these birds in 
the western portion of Kansas, near Fort Hays. This was late in May, and the birds 
were evidently breeding. 
Mr. Salvin met with occasional specimens about the lagoons of Chiapam, on the 
Pacific coast. It was usually in company with, but not so numerous as, the Numenius 
Hudsonicus. He also obtained a single specimen at Duenas, in the interior. On the 
Atlantic coast it is of comparatively rare occurrence. Mr. Boardman informs me 
that occasional examples have been taken on the St. Croix Biver, as far up as Calais ; 
and, as it is not uncommon on Prince Edward’s Island, it quite possibly may be met 
with on the sea-coast of Nova Scotia. It is seen about Calais, but only near the 
close of summer, in the month of August. At the same season examples have been 
taken on the Massachusetts coast ; and — so far as I am aware — at no other time. 
Mr. Boardman has been informed, on good authority, that this bird breeds regu- 
larly in considerable numbers on Prince Edward’s Island ; and this fact accounts for 
its occasional appearance on the New England coast. 
Giraud includes the Long-billed Curlew among the birds of Long Island, where it 
is occasionally found frequenting the muddy shores of the beaches and marshes, col- 
lecting minute shellfish, which, with worms and various insects, constitute its food. 
When moving about in flocks it is said to fly much after the manner of the Wild 
Goose, its leader uttering a peculiarly hoarse dull note, which may be easily and 
effectively imitated, as this bird is proverbial for answering the fowler’s call when 
at a greater distance from his decoy than any other shore-bird. When approaching, 
and near to the decoys, it spreads its wings and sails slowly up, presenting a fair 
mark. Its flesh is said to be rank, and the young partake of the same flavor ; but 
this is probably true only of those which feed on the salt-marshes. The birds which 
are found in the interior, feeding on grasshoppers and berries, are regarded as a 
great delicacy. This Curlew is noted for its great sympathy with those of its 
own kind, flocks being often kept within gunshot by the cries of their wounded 
companions. 
Bichardson supposed he had good reason for believing that this species frequents 
the Saskatchewan Plains and the banks of the Columbia. There is said to be a speci- 
men of this Curlew in the Museum of the Hudson’s Bay Company ; but the locality 
from which it was procured is not known. 
The Long-billed Curlew in its general appearance, and probably also in nearly all 
its specific habits, bears a very close resemblance to the Common Curlew, N. arquata, 
of Europe ; and before Wilson pointed out the difference between them, the two were 
confounded together. According to Wilson, this Curlew appears in the salt-marshes 
vol. i. — 40 
