c er^ /Zc^n^u^ 
jq 6 Numenius longirostris. Long-b^leb Curi-ew. - A -specimen 
W as shot near Plattsburg, on Lake Cha .Bplam.jeveral jears_ago^_ 
Hull. N. O. Q. 7, Ootj 1882, p.256 
Long Island Bird Notes N. T. Lawrence 
15. Numenius longirostris. Long-billed Curlew. — My experience 
with this bird in the vicinity of Far Rockaway is to find it more uncom- 
mon than the preceding, having but two records during the same period 
of time. The first, a female, was killed on the ocean front of the outer 
beach, in company with a flock of Bartram’s Sandpipers ( Bartramia 
longicauda ), August 20, 1873. The second was shot on the salt meadow, 
August 26, 1885. I might mention here that the Numenius hudsonicus is 
common, the flight generally taking place from the 10th to the end ot 
Juiy - Ank, 2. July, 1886. p.273 
Dutcher, Bare Long Island Birds. 
Numenius longirostris. Long-billed Curlew. — Two specimens are 
in the collection, labelled “Rockaway Meadows.” Of this species Col. 
Pike says : “I have shot hundreds of these birds, and fifty years ago they 
were very plentiful. On ‘Foster’s Meadows’ I always met with them. In 
the last twenty-five years they seem to have disappeared, and I have not 
met a single individual. *The location of the two specimens in the collec- 
tion is all right.” 
Auk X. July, 1893 p 272 . 
General Notes 
A Specimen of Numenius arquatus Said to have been Taken on Long 
Island, N. Y. I he collection of the New York State Museum contains a 
specimen of Curlew labelled il i Numenius longirostris , Long-billed Curlew, 
male, taken on Long Island in 1853.” The specimen proves to be a 
European Curlew ( Numenius arquatus'). Mr. William Dutcher has com- 
paied the specimen with specimens of Numenius arquatus in the American 
Museum of Natural History in New York City, and says there is not the 
slightest doubt that the bird belongs to that species. This being the case, 
the statement on the label that the bird was taken on Long Island 
becomes an interesting one. Mr. Brewster, Mr. Ridgway and Dr. Mer- 
liam infoim me that, so far as they know, the species has never been 
ecorded as occurring in an American locality. 
The annual reports of the New York State Museum (or Cabinet) record 
but three specimens of Long-billed Curlew, Numenius longirostris, as 
having been received into the State collection, viz., one specimen (with- 
out data of any kind) recorded in the 1st Report, p. 17, 1848; one male, 
recorded as part of the De Rham collection, 4th Report, p. 36, 1851 ; one 
male, 1 ecorded in the 7th Report, p. 17, 1854. This last specimen was re- 
ceived in 1853 as it is recorded in ‘-Appendix A. Catalogue of the quad- 
numucrs. 1UC w lm is. vvtto uj nu . jijjAyt.1 l___ 1 , ,, ^ 
employ of the museum, and at a time when Mr. Gebhard was connected 
with the institution. On account of the position which he held — that of 
guide — Mr. Gebhard’s eyes were upon the collection almost every day. 
Under such circumstances it is hardly possible that there could have been 
any confusion of labels without attracting his attention. — Wm. B. 
Marshall, New York State Museum , Albany , N. ) . 
The above notes were read at the last Congress of the American Orni- 
thologists’ Union, November, 1891, and the specimen in question also was 
exhibited. The identity of the specimen being beyond question, the only 
other point to be decided is, whether the claim that it was taken in North 
America is well founded. In addition to the facts submitted above by Mr. 
Marshall, he also found in the Comptroller’s Office in Albany, a bill made 
by James A. Hurst, dated June 8, 1853, for certain specimens of mammals, 
birds, etc., among which is this item, “Long-billed Curlue, male, very 
fine, $5.00.” Mr. Hurst who sold this specimen to the State Museum 
was in the ensploy of the State Cabinet at the date of the bill and for 
man y years afterward in the capacity of taxidermist. It is evident neither 
Mr. Gebhard, the curator, nor Mr. Hurst, the taxidermist, were aware 
that the specimen added to the collection at that time was the European 
