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Mack ay on the Eskimo Curlew. 
January 
HABITS OF THE ESKIMO CURLEW ( NUMENIUS 
BOREALIS) IN NEW ENGLAND. 
BY GEORGE H. MACKAY. 
From the shores of the Arctic Ocean, where they breed, to 
Patagonia, where they probably winter (Ibis, 1878, page 404), 
is a journey of seven thousand miles; yet the Eskimo Curlews, 
familiarly known as Doughbirds, compass it every year on 
their migrations. Starting from the far north after incubation is 
over, the older birds, which are then generally lean and in poor 
condition, commence to straggle down in small .parties until 
about the first of August they reach Labrador, where thev re- 
main, with constantly increasing numbers, for about three weeks, 
becoming extremely fat upon the berries of the Emfietrum 
nigrum (known as curlew-berry, crow-berry or bear-berry) to 
which they are particularly partial. 
About the twenty-third of August, at such time as the weather 
conditions prove favorable for migration southward, they under- 
take their long journey to the southern portion of the South 
American continent. They are then in the best physical condi- 
tion, and are frequently so fat that when they strike the ground 
after being shot flying the skin bursts, exposing a much thicker 
layer of fat than is usually seen in other birds, hence their local 
name ‘Doughbird,’ from the saying “as fat as dough.” At this 
season they are considered by epicures the finest eating of any of 
our birds, and consequently they are watched for and sought after 
by sportsmen with great perseverance during the very short 
period that they are expected to pass along this coast during their 
migration southward. They suffer but little, however, in New 
England from such pursuit, as the number killed in the great 
majority of years is trivial and has no effect in diminishing their 
numbers. 
When I take a retrospective view for a series of years I am 
more than ever impressed with the few birds killed except in 
some very exceptional year. In most years they are far from 
being abundant, in fact are rather the reverse. I am inclined to 
the opinion that these birds generally pass our coast much further 
from land than has been usually supposed, for it rarely happens 
1S92.] 
Mackay on the Eskimo Curlew. 
that any large numbers of them are deflected over the land by 01- 
dinary storms, very severe thunder and lightning with heavy rain, 
or dense fogs, apparently being required to drive them from then 
customary line of flight and force them to seek land until moie 
favorable conditions for migrating take place, for they are unus- 
ually strong and high fliers with great endurance. I believe also, 
that it is only in exceptional years that we see a portion ol the 
principal movement of these birds while making their southern 
migration. 
Those which do visit us almost invariably land with their boon 
companions, the American Golden Plover, of whose flocks I have 
frequently noticed they were the leaders, and I can scarcely call 
to mind, as I write, an instance where any number of Eskimo Cur- 
lew have landed without there being more or less Golden Plover 
present at the same time. 
Those birds which may come cannot, if they would, remain 
any longer than is absolutely necessary, for they are so harassed 
immediately after landing that the moment there occurs a change 
in the weather favorable for migration they at once depart, they 
appear to leave the coast at Long Island, New \ork, and strike 
further out to sea, and then are not seen on the Atlantic coast tor 
another year. 
It is on the spring migration to their breeding grounds, while 
passing through the United States and especially along the Miss- 
issippi Valley, that they suffer, being unmercifully shot in many 
places on the route, particularly in Nebraska. Like the Amen- 
can Golden Plover ( Charadrius dominions ) the Eskimo Curlew 
never returns in the spring to the North via the Atlantic coast.* 
Of those I have observed in New England during a series ol 
years I may say that most of their habits closely resemble those 
of the Golden Plover. In migration they fly in much the same 
manner, with extended and broadside and triangular lines and 
clusters similar to those of Ducks and Geese at such times. I hey 
usually fly low after landing, sweeping slowly over the ground, 
»The only Eskimo Curlew that I have ever heard of being obtained in the spring in 
New England was shot by my friend Mr. Augustus Denton on Cape Cod Mass., 
about the end of May, 1873- It was a lone bird. Mr. Denton told me that h 
always supposed it was a bird which had been wounded the previous autumn and had 
managed to live through the winter; the reason for this conclusion was the condi ion 
hirri it hem? verv thin, and sedgy in taste when eaten. 
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