S L ENDER-B I L L ED CURLEW.
Numenius tenuirostris, Savi.
I n d e p e n d e n t l y o f the size o f the bill, the distinct spotting o f the breast will at all times serve to distinguish
this bird from its near allies the Curlew and Whimbrel, which until lately were the only examples o f the genus
Numenius found in Europe : the honour of adding the present very elegant species is due to Professor Savi.
It is a native o f the southern portions o f Europe, and, which is very singular, we have never seen it from
Asia or Africa, countries in which both the common species, the Whimbrel and Curlew, are very abundant.
O f its habits, manners, &c. nothing is known, but they doubtless resemble those o f the other members of
the genus.
Throat white ; the whole o f the head and thè remainder o f the neck pale brown, each feather ornamented
in the centre near the tip with an oblong mark o f deep brown ; upper part òf the back and lesser wing-
coverts deep brown margined with pale brown ; greater wing-coverts and the long scapularies pale brown
with whitish edges, and barred with deep brown ; tail white, barred with blackish brown ; breast and
abdomen white passing into buff on the flanks, and each feather having a large heart-shaped mark in the
centre, near the tip ; vent and under tail-coverts white ; base o f the lower mandible reddish, the remainder
and the whole o f the upper mandible black ; legs and feet greenish black.
We have figured an adult o f the natural size.