SCOLOPACIDM; — THE SNIPE FAMILY — NUMENIUS. 
317 
appearance in tlie salt-marshes of that island in August. It is said sometimes to 
frequent the uplands, where it feeds on insects and berries of various kinds, becoming 
very fat, although even then its flesh is not well-flavored. The flight of the Hudson- 
ian Curlew is described as being easy and steady ; and it readily obeys the fowler’s 
whistle, generally presenting an excellent mark. This species is remarkable for the 
manner in which it sympathizes with its wounded companions — a trait also conspic- 
uously displayed by the Long-billed Curlew. Straggling individuals of this species 
are occasionally observed to linger behind until the early part of November, but in 
general all have left by the middle of October. They are known to the gunners of 
Long Island both as the “ Short-billed ” and as the “Jack ” Curlew. 
According to Dresser, this species is of occasional occurrence in Southern Texas 
both in spring and fall ; and he procured two specimens which had been shot near 
San Antonio. It is the least common there of the Curlews. 
Hearne, in his “Journey to the Arctic Ocean” — a work published more than a 
century ago — (p. 424), designates this species as the “ Esquimaux Curlew ” — a name 
now given exclusively to the smaller bird, IV". borealis. He states that at the time of 
his writing both species were found in great numbers on the coasts of Hudson’s Bay 
during the summer, and that they both breed in all parts of it, as far north as lati- 
tude 72°. This bird always keeps near the sea-coast, awaiting the ebbing of the tides, 
and being frequently found in great numbers at low-water mark, where it feeds on 
the marine insects which are found in great abundance by the sides of the stones. At 
high-water it retires to the dry ridges, and awaits the receding of the tide. This bird 
will answer to a whistle imitating its note. It flies as steadily as a Woodcock, and 
as it rests long on the wing, presents itself as a mark which can be easily hit. Hearne 
adds that, at times, this Curlew is regarded as delicious eating. 
Audubon did not observe this species in Labrador, and although he made diligent 
inquiries among intelligent residents, could find no one who knew of its occurrence 
there. Nevertheless others have met with and secured specimens of a few individ- 
uals of this species in that region. This bird is usually very shy, and it is seen in 
the greatest numbers at the time of the departure of the borealis, which species it 
greatly resembles in its general appearance, habits, and manner of feeding, although 
having a much louder and harsher voice. 
Wilson, although he refers to this species in his description of Scolopax borealis, 
was not aware of the existence of two species of Short-billed Curlews, and it is im- 
possible to determine which one lie had in view in his accounts of its habits. It is 
probable, however, that while his description of the plumage belongs to the larger 
species, it is the smaller one to which his account of the habits of the Curlew is to be 
referred. The same is also true of Nuttall’s statements, we believing that this spe- 
cies is more exclusively a feeder in the salt-marshes, and that it rarely, if ever, feeds 
on the uplands in the manner of the borealis. Nuttall states that, previous to its 
departure south in the fall, this species will assemble in large flocks near the sea- 
beach ; and he was informed by a friend that it had been seen in an island in the 
Piscataqua River in a dense flock of many thousands, thickly covering several acres 
of ground. Barren birds of this species are found on the Atlantic coast from May 
to August, but are usually of solitary habit. Audubon states that he has found this 
bird abundant on the shores of New Jersey in May, where it remains a few weeks, 
and that he has seen a large flock of these Curlews near Charleston, S. C., in 
December. 
Mr. MacFarlane met with this species breeding on the Barren Grounds, on what 
is known as the Eskimo Barrens, on the Lower Anderson River. The nests were on 
