GAME BIRDS OF MISCOU ISLAND. 
555 
The large sickle-billed curlew has apparently disappeared. In 
1878, I saw two specimens, one on Peters River near Bathurst, 
and one on Miscou Island, but since then none, nor can I get any 
authentic record of one. 
Jack curlews are the only birds of which I can say their 
numbers have not vastly diminished during my twenty-eight 
years of residence. Never in large flocks but in collections of 
two, four or even ten, they are scattered over “the moss” from 
August to September 15th or 20th, but the majority do not arrive 
till September, and their stay on the island is wholly dependent 
on the quantity of blueberries. With an abundant berry crop they 
remain till driven off by the northerly and easterly September 
gales ; with a small crop they simply explore the island and pass 
on. On arrival they are always in very poor condition, but a few 
days with the blueberries puts them in the best of condition. 
The mention of the eskimo curlew or dough bird must bring 
a pang of regret to all naturalists, sportsmen and epicures, for 
it is apparently rapidly disappearing. When I first knew the island 
they were present in flocks of twenty to fifty or seventy-five all 
over “the moss,” arriving often before the middle of August and 
remaining till about September 15th, always arriving earlier and 
leaving earlier than the jack curlew, and usually flying in com- 
pany of the golden plover. Up to 1890 they continued fairly 
abundant ; since that year they have steadily and rapidly 
diminished in numbers, and for the last eight years have been rare. 
Several seasons of late none have been seen, and in the last five 
years I do not think I have seen as many flocks. Usually of late 
a few isolated specimens, mingled with the shore birds and not 
among the blueberries, has been my record. 
What has been said of the dough birds will apply almost word 
for word to the golden plover, except that the numbers of the 
latter were noticed to be rapidly diminishing for several years 
before the loss of the dough birds was observed. The majority 
of the birds were already in their winter plumage on arriving, 
the black throat and breast being seen only exceptionally. 
Beatle-heads have never been numerous or in large flocks ; 
usually isolated individuals are scattered over the sandy edges of 
the salt marshes, and occasionally flocks of six to ten are seen. 
