236 
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF 
Numenius (Phaeopus) borealis (Forst.) Lath. — -Esquimaux Curlew. “The 
Chew.” 
JVumenius borealis , Aud. Birds Amer., vi. 45, pi. 357. Cassin, Gen. Rep. 744. 
From the time of my first arrival in the country until the second week in 
August, the stereotyped reply of the inhabitants to my inquiries concerning 
game was, “There is nothing to shoot yet, sir ; the O’ lews have not yet ar- 
rived ; but when they come you will have fine sport. ’ ’ All were agreed as to 
the abundance of the birds, the facility with which they could be obtained, 
the sport of killing them, and their delicacy on the table. Naturally enough, 
when disappointed in procuring other birds, our thoughts turned to the Cur- 
lews, and we endeavored to console ourselves by shooting them in anticipa- 
tion. It was not, however, until the 16th of August, when in the romantic 
harbor of “ Indian Tickle,” that we obtained the first glimpse of the Curlews. 
Five days later, at Henley Harbor, our sport commenced ; the Curlews were 
there in immense numbers, and for nearly two weeks we all enjoyed such 
sport as almost made us forget our disappointments and hardships on the 
dreary Labrador coast. The Curlews then disappeared as suddenly as they 
had arrived ; not, however, until I had had ample opportunities of studying 
their habits, and had procured a sufficient number of specimens. 
The Esquimaux Curlew arrived on the Labrador coast from its more northern 
breeding grounds in immense numbers, flying very swiftly in flocks of great ex- 
tent. These immediately broke up into smaller companies, and proceeded at 
once in search of food. They remained but a very short time. As Audubon most 
correctly says, “I was not long in discovering that their stay on this coast 
was occasioned solely by the density of the mists, and the heavy gales that 
already gave intimation of the approaching close of the summer ; for whenever 
the weather cleared up a little, thousands of them set off and steered in a 
straight course across the broad Gulf of St. Lawrence. On the contrary, when 
the wind was high and the fogs thick, they flew swiftly and low over the rocky 
surface of the country, as if bewildered. Wherever there was a spot that 
seemed likely to afford a supply of food, there the Curlews abounded and were 
easily approached.” His observations, however, differ much from mine, in 
reference to the time of the arrival and departure of the birds. He states that 
they made their first appearance on the 29th of July, and had all left by the 
12th of August ; whereas, I saw none until about that latter date, and none 
were to be seen on the first of September. For two or three days before their 
final departure, we had noticed them all moving directly southward, flying 
very high in the air in loose straggling flocks, with a broad extended front. 
The Curlews associate in flocks of every size, from three to as many thou- 
sands, but they generally fly in so loose and straggling a manner, that it is 
rare to kill more than half a dozen at a shot. When they wheel, however, in 
any of their many beautiful evolutions, they close together in a more compact 
body, and offer a more favorable opportunity for the gunner.. Their flight is 
firm, direct, very swift, when necessary much protracted, and is performed 
with rapid regular beats. They never sail except when about to alight ; then 
the wings are much incurved downwards, in the manner of most Waders. As 
their feet touch the ground their long, pointed wings are raised over the back 
until the tips almost touch, and then deliberately folded, much in the manner 
of the Solitary Sandpiper, Rhyacophilus solitarius. Their note is an oft-re- 
peated, soft, mellow, though clear whistle, which may be easily imitated. By 
this means they can readily be decoyed within shot, if the imitation is good 
and the gunner is careful to keep concealed. The smaller the flock, the more 
easily are they allured, and a single individual rarely fails to turn his course 
toward the spot from whence the sound proceeds. When in very extensive 
flocks they have a note which, when uttered by the whole number, I can 
compare to nothing but the chattering of a flock of blackbirds. When 
wounded and taken in hand, they emit a very loud harsh scream, like that 
[Aug. 
