148 
This is the commonest summer Sandpiper in Canada; occasional 
pairs are to be found along the smallest streams. It frequents all kinds 
of ground; sand beaches, gravelly reaches, mud-flats, or rocky shores. 
Almost any small Sandpiper seen in summer near our waters may be 
provisionally put down as this species unless there are good grounds for 
other identification. Its habit of bobbing its body up and down occasion- 
ally, even when apparently at rest, or more rapidly when excited, has given 
it the common name “Tip-up.” Its white-barred wings, peculiar flight, 
with a few quick beats followed by a short sail on decurved wings, and its 
loud triumphant ‘ ‘ Pewit-pewit-pewit ’ ' as it alights on the stream margin 
well ahead of the observer are familiar to all. One can chase it from point 
to point for some distance from its home ground, when, joined by its mate, 
it will circle well around the disturber and return to the place from which 
it started. 
Economic Status. Though normally frequenting water edges it is 
often seen in the adjacent fields, running between the furrows of newly 
turned earth or rows of growing plants. Its food consits mainly, if not en- 
tirely, of insects; hence it is beneficial to the farmer. The species has not 
suffered from shooting, probably because of its small size and non-flocking 
habits, and it seems to hold its own even in the most cultivated sections. 
264. Long-billed Curlew, sickle-billed curlew. Numenius americanus. L, 24. 
The largest of our Waders, varying considerably in length owing to the growth of the long, 
decurved bill. All below pale, pink-buffy, lightening to cream on throat and face. Flanks 
lightly Btriped with brown which extends sparsely across breast and more thickly and 
finely up and around neck to face and crown. Above, dark brown and the same pink- 
buffy of the lower parts in complicated mottling and barring. 
Figure 174 
Specific details of Long-billed Curlew; scale, }. 
a, plain aiillars; i>, crown without median stripe; 
c, profile of head; d, tooth-marked first primary. 
Distinctions. The long, decurved bill and buffy coloration are distinctive of the 
Curlews. Too large to be confused with the Eskimo Curlew, but very similar and nearly 
intergrading in length with the Hudsonian. Its distinctive characters are plain, unbarred, 
pink-buff axillars which separate it from both the other Curlews; saw-tooth markings on 
the primaries separate it from the Eskimo; and an evenly striped crown instead of one 
showing a well-defined median line distinguishes it from the Hudsonian (Figure 174, com- 
pare with 175 and 176). As the bills of Cuilews continue to grow for some time after 
apparent maturity, they are rather variable in length, but any Curlew with a bill over 4 
inches long is probably this species. 
