The Whimbrel, Ruff, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, and Eskimo 
Curlew on Long Island, N. Y. — Through the courtesy of Mr. John H. 
Hendrickson of Jamaica, N. Y., I am able to record the occurrence on Long 
Island of these four Shorebirds. The specimens of the two European 
species were brought in the flesh to the American Museum and are now 
preserved in its mounted collection of local birds. 
The Whimbrel ( Numenius phceopus), which proved on dissection to be 
a male, was shot by Mr. S. M. Van Allen, of Jamaica, Long Island, at 
Gilgo Inlet, Great South Bay, south of Amityville, on Sept. 4, 1912. It 
was in the company of two Hudsonian Curlews. This appears to be the 
first record of the Whimbrel for the United States. According to the 
A. O. U. Check-List, it is of occasional occurrence in Greenland and has 
been taken once in Nova Scotia. 
The Ruff ( Machetes pugnax), an immature male judging by size and plum- 
age, was collected by Mr. Hendrickson near Freeport on September 26, 
1914. It was alone and was attracted to the decoys by imitations of the 
calls of Yellowlegs and Robin Snipe. There are numerous North American 
records for this species, including two previous Long Island captures. 
Mr. Hendrickson states that during the past half-dozen years he has 
collected three Buff -breasted Sandpipers ( Tryngites subruficollis ) near 
Freeport, and could have secured another one the past season. 
Regarding the Eskimo Curlew ( Numenius borealis) Mr. Hendrickson 
writes: “When I was on the meadows two years ago last September I 
saw two birds which I believe were Esquimo Curlews. As we were aboard 
the boat getting it ready to leave, these birds flew within about twenty-five 
yards of us, and I had a good opportunity to observe them closely. They 
were not the Hudsonian Curlew, commonly called “ Jacks they were 
much smaller and less wary than the latter. I know the Esquimo Curlew, 
having shot several specimens a number of years ago, and at the time I 
told my friend that was what I believed these birds were.” — W. Be W. 
Miller, American Museum of Natural History, New York City. 
//. sfyvt.* f 9/J~ ft* t-lb- 
