96 
BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 
I have never met with the Long-billed Curlew in Pennsylvania, where 
it occurs only as a rare and irregular migrant, in the spring and fall. 
The late Judge Libhart, in his report, mentions this species as a rare 
visitor in Lancaster county. Mr. D. F. Keller, of Reading, says it has 
been taken in Berks county, and Mr. Thomas S. Gillin, of Ambler, has 
observed it as an occasional visitor in Montgomery county. Dr. Coues 
{Birds of the Northivest ) says: “ Unlike our other two species of curlew, 
the Long-billed is perfectly at home in most parts of the United States, 
rearing its young even down on our southern border. Its northern 
range is restricted, apparently, by the region of the Saskatchewan, as 
intimated by Richardson, and the length of the British Provinces ad¬ 
joining the United States. I was, however, assured of its occurrence in 
Labrador, though I did not see it myself. In New England it appears 
to be rather uncommon, according to all accounts. * * * I found it 
resident on the North Carolina coast, where it undoubtedly breeds. I 
found it breeding with Godwits and Bartramian Tattlers on the prairies 
of Minnesota and eastern Dakota, and likewise observed it in June, ap¬ 
parently breeding, in New*Mexico, near Fort Wingate, just west of the 
Rio Grande. * * * It is by no means confined to the vicinity of the 
water, but, on the contrary, is often seen on extensive dry plains, where 
it feeds on various molluscs, insects and berries, which it deftly secures 
with its extraordinarily long bill. The length and curve of this member, 
gives the bird a singular and unmistakable appearance, either in flight 
or when gathering its food. Its voice is sonorous and not at all musical.” 
Numenius borealis (Forst.). 
Eskimo Curlew; Dough-bird. 
Description. 
“Much smaller than the preceding; bill rather longer than the head, slender ; wings 
long; tail short; legs moderate ; entire upper parts brownish-black, spotted with 
dull yellowish-rufous; quills brownish-black, uniform on both v«bs, without bars 
on either ; under wing-coverts and axillaries light-rufous, with transverse stripes of 
brownish-black; under parts dull-white, tinged with rufous, with longitudinal 
narrow stripes of brownish-black on the neck and breast, and transverse stripes of 
the same on the sides and under tail-coverts ; tail ashy-brown, with transverse bands 
of brownish-black ; bill brownish-black ; base of under mandible yellow ; legs green¬ 
ish-brown ; iris dark-brown. Length about 13^ inches ; (extent about 28) ; bill 2± to 
2\ ; tarsus If.” — B. B. of N. A. 
Habitat. —Eastern Province of North America, breeding in the Arctic regions, 
and migrate south to South America. 
Rare spring and fall migrant. A few of these birds are seen every 
year about the shores of Erie bay, where, in October, 1889 , two were shot 
by Mr. James Thompson, of Erie city. 
