Birds of Celebes: Charadriidae. 
795 
guished by its bill which is IV 2 to 2 times the length of the tarsus and has the 
nasal groove running down it almost to the extreme tip; from Scolopaoo the up- 
curved character of the bill, the middle toe shorter than the tarsus , the small 
web between the basal phalanges of the outer and middle toes, as well as the 
different type of plumage serve to separate it. In its changes of plumage from 
the greys and browns of winter to the fine brick red and brown of the breeding- 
season it resembles Phalaropus fulicarius and certain Tringae , especially Tringa 
subarquata. As in Phalaropus, the female Limosa is a finer bird (at least in 
point of size) than the male. Moreover, as Prof. Newton (D. B. 366) points 
out, the male is believed to take the chief duty of incubation on himself*). 
Limosa melanuroides Gld. which ranges from East Siberia south in winter 
to Australia, and which must sometimes set foot on Celebes, may be distin- 
guished from the present bird by its black tail (except at base) and white upper 
tail-coverts. 
GENUS NUMENIUS Briss. 
The Curlews are best characterized by their long decurved bills, with the 
nasal groove discernible down to the terminal fourth ; the toes webbed at the 
base and shorter than the tarsus ; the tarsus for the most part transversely scutel- 
lated in front (in N. minutus behind also). Most of the species are of large 
size, and wear a general plumage of brown, varied with pale brown and white, 
below chiefly whitish, streaked or barred with brown. 
Several forms occur, probably as winter visitors only, in Celebes. The 
genus is almost cosmopolitan. 
339. NUMENIUS MINUTUS J.Gd. 
Little Whimbrel. 
Numenius minutus (1) Gld., P. Z. S. 1840, 176; (II) id., B. Austr. 1848, VI, pi. 44; 
(3) Schl„ Mus. P.-B., Scolopaces, 1864, 101; (4) id., Ned. Tdschr. Dierk. 1866, HI, 
348; (5) Wald., Tr. Z. S. 1872, Vili, 96; (6) Salvad., Oat. Ucc. Borneo 1874, 334; 
Briigg., Abli. Ver. Bremen 1876, V, 464; f7j David & Oust., Ois. Chine 
1877, 458; (8) Salvad., Orn. Pap. 1882, m, 334; (9) Meyer, Z. ges. Oni. 1884, 295; 
(10) Seeb., Ibis 1884, 34, 268; (11) id., Distr. Oharadr. 1887, 335; (12J Dorries, 
J. f. 0. 1888, 90; (18) Seeb., B. Japan 1890, 317; (14) Styan, Ibis 1891, 331, 508; 
(15) Salvad., Orn. Pap. Agg. 1891, 205; (16) De La Touche, Ibis 1892, 501; 
(17) Tacz., Faune Om. Sib. Orient. 1893, n, 947. 
a. Numenius minor (nec Briss., Leach); (1) S. MUll., Verb. Natuurk. Oomm. 1839 — 44, 110; 
(11) Temm. & Schl., Faun. Jap., Aves 1850, 111, pi. 67; (3) Swinh., Ibis 1863, 
409; (4) Gld., Hb. B. Austr. 1865, 11, 280; (5) Dresser, B. Europe VITE, 245 
(1873); (6) Seeb., Ibis 1885, 363; (7) Rams., Tab. List 1888, 20. 
1) This point has received confirmation from Prof. Newton himself, who informs us (in Hi.) that he 
lias had the male bird shot from the nest. 
100 * 
