ScoLOPACiDa:. BIRDS. Tantalidsi. 
cl\xxix 
quality ; but, besides this, tliey liave a note peculiar, I 
believe, to this period ot‘ tbeir lives (that is, when 
pairing). It is a very loud, prolonged cry, sounding 
more like the whistling of the wind than a. bird’s cry. 
'I’he wild sound, which is strangely mournful, is gen- 
erally uttered when the bird, just alighted, holds his 
wings for a moment perpendicularly, before adjusting 
them over his back. It is frequently heard in the 
night, all through the breeding season, and is, I 
think, one of the most remarkable outcries I ever 
heard, 'I'liere is yet another note this Tattler utters, 
chiefly when disturbed in breeding. 'I’his is a harsh 
scream, frequently and quickly repeated, much like 
thatgiven by other waders.” Wilson named this bird 
as new to science, and describes it from a specimen 
taken near klr. Bartram’s Botanic Gardens, on the 
banks of the Schuylkill River. It is twelve inches 
in length, and twenty-one in alar extent. 'I'he bill is 
an inch and a half long, slightly bent downwards, 
and wrinkled at the base. 'I’he sexes are nearly 
alike. 
BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER [Tryngites rufes- 
cens). — 'I'liis species ranges over the whole of North 
America. It is migratory in the United States, and 
is not common on the eastern sea-coast, though a 
few are seen every season on Long Island. It breeds 
far in the north. In winter it is met with in South 
America. Its habits are said to be most like those of 
the last-described species. 'I’he egg is very point- 
edly pyriform, of a clay color in ground, with very 
bold and sharp marking of rich umber-brown. 
WANDERING TATTLER {Heteroscelus incanus ). — 
A common bird on the Pacific Coast of North and 
South America and Japan. It is distinguished by 
its uniformly plain colors. 
LONG-BILLED CURLEW (Numenius longirostris). 
— 'I’his bird is familiar to all parts of the United 
States, and breeds in most sections, wintering in 
Mexico and south to Brazil. 'I’he Long-billed Curlew 
was formerly considered a mere variety of the English 
species, but it is now regarded as distinct. Wilson 
says the Curlews appear in the salt marshes of New 
Jersey about the middle of May, on their way to llie 
north, and in September, on their return to their 
breeding-places. 'I’heir food consists chiefly of small 
crabs, which they are very dexterous at probing for 
and pulling out of holes with their long bills. 
'I’hey likewise feed on bramble-berries, frequenting 
the fields and uplands for that purpose. Ur. New- 
berry found the Long-bill very abundant in the val- 
ley of the Sacramento, California. 
HUDSONIAN CURLEW [Numenius hudsonicus ). — 
'I’his bird is common to North America, Central and 
South America. It breeds in high latitudes, is migra- 
tory in the United States, and winters in the South 
and beyond. It is much less known than the others, 
is rare in New England, but not uncommon on the 
coast of New Jersey, its western range being as far 
as Kansas. 'I’he habits of this bird are little known. 
Wilson mentions it under the name of Esquimaux 
Curlew [Scolopax iorealis). 'I’he habits are said to 
be the same as the latter. The egg is larger ; other- 
wise it cannot be distinguished. 
ESQUIMAUX CURLEW {Numenius ioi’ealis). — In- 
habits North and Middle America, but is not found 
west of the Rocky Mountains. It breeds within the 
arctic circle, is migratory within the United States, 
but rarely seen in winter. It is said to be extremely 
abundant in Labrador, in August, wintering in Cen- 
tral America and South America. It is not known in 
the West Indies. Ur. Cones says : “ 'I’heir note is an 
oft-repeated, soft, mellow, though clear whistle, which 
may be easily imitated. When in large flocks, they 
have a note which, when uttered by the whole num- 
ber, I can compare to nothing but the chattering of 
a flock of Blackbirds.” 'I’heir food consists almost 
entirely of the crowberry {Empetrum). 'I’hey also, 
like others of the tribe, feed on small terrestrial mol- 
lusca. It breeds abundantly in the Anderson River, 
region ; has four eggs, usually in June, in a nest 
made on the open plain — a mere depression in the 
ground — lined with a few dried leaves or gras.ses. 
'I’his Curlew is eighteen inches in length and thirty- 
two in alar extent; its bill is four and a half inches 
in length, black towards the point, and a pale pur- 
plish flesh color near the base. 
Family— 'I'AN'rALlUAil. 
'I’he Ibis. 
WOOD IBIS {Tantalus loculator). — 'I’his bird is an 
inhabitant of the warmer portions of our continent — 
the South Atlantic and Gulf States, and across to 
the Colorado River. It occasionally reaches Penn- 
sylvania, and not unfrequently is seen in Ohio and 
the Carolinas. In Cuba, Mexico and South America 
it is at home. 'I’he Wood Ibis is Crane-like in aspect, 
being four feet in length. It is a pure white in color, 
with black tips to wings and tail. 'I’he head is en- 
tirely bald in the adult bird, and the bill is extremely 
thick and heavy. Like many other birds, it is ab- 
surdly named in certain regions, being called Gannet 
in Florida and Water 'I’lirkey in Colorado. Ur. 
Cones, in a pleasant description of the Wood Ibis 
at Fort Yuma, says : “ 'I’hey leave their retreat about 
noon, flapping heavily until they clear all obstacles, 
then mounting faster, with strong, regular beats ot 
their broad wings; now they sail in circles, with 
wide-spread, motionless pinions, supported as if by 
magic. A score or more cross each others paths in 
interminable spirals, their snowy bodies, tipped at the 
wings’ point with jetty black, clear-cut against the 
sky ; they become specks in the air, ami finally pass 
from -view. 'I’he carriage of the Wood Ibis is stately 
and firm. Each leg is lifted slowly and planted with 
deliberate precision before the other is moved, when 
the birds walk unsuspicious of danger. It springs 
powerfully from the ground, bending low to gather 
strength, and for a little distance flaps hurriedly with 
dangling legs, as if it was much exertion to lift so 
heavy a body.” Bartram says that “ they are never 
seen on the sea-coast, but yet are never far distant 
from it. 'They feed on serpents and other small 
reptiles.” 'The length is about four feet; bill is 
nearly nine inches. 'I’he young differ in color from 
the adult. 
