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T H E L O N G - B I L L E D C U R L E W .
NUMENIUS L0NGIR0STRIS, WlLS.
PLATE CCXXXI. MALE AND FEMALE.
THE Long-billed Curlew is a constant resident in the southern districts
of the United States, whereas the other species are only autumnal
and winter visitors. It is well known by the inhabitants of Charleston
that it breeds on the islands on the coast of South Carolina; and my
friend the Reverend JOHN BACHMAN has been at their breeding grounds.
That some individuals go far north to breed, is possible enough, but we
have no authentic account of such an occurrence, although many suppositions
have been recorded. All that I have to say on this subject is, that
the bird in question is quite unknown in the Magdeleine Islands, where,
notwithstanding the assertions of the fishermen, they acknowledged that
they had mistaken Godwits for Curlews. In Newfoundland, I met with
a well-informed English gentleman, who had resided in that island upwards
of twenty years, and described the Common Curlew of Europe
with accuracy, but who assured me that he had observed only two species
of Curlew there, one about the size of the Whimbrel—the Numenius
hudsonicus, the other smaller—the N. borealis, and that only in August
and the beginning of September, when they spend a few days in that
country, feed on berries, and then retire southward. Mr JONES of Labrador,
and his brother-in-law, who is a Scotch gentleman, a scholar, and
a sportsman, gave me the same account. None of my party observed an
individual of the species in the course of our three months' stay in the
country, although we saw great numbers of the true Esquimaux Curlew,
N. borealis. Yet I would not have you to suppose that I do not give
credit to the reports of some travellers, who have said that the Long-billed
Curlew is found in the fur countries during summer. This may be true
enough ; but none of the great northern travellers, such as RICHARDSON,
Ross, PARRY, or FRANKLIN, have asserted this as a fact. Therefore if
the bird of which I speak has been seen far north, it was in all probability
a few stragglers that had perhaps been enticed to follow some other
species. I am well aware of the propensity it has to ramble, as I have
shot some in Missouri, Indiana, Kentucky, Arkansas, and Mississippi;
LONG-BILLED CURLEW. 241
but the birds thus obtained were rare in those districts, where the species
only appears at remote periods ; and in every instance of the kind I have
found the individuals much less shy than usual, and apparently more perplexed
than frightened by the sight of man.
Until my learned friend, Prince CHARLES BONAPARTE, corrected the
errors which had been made respecting the Curlews of North America,
hardly one of these birds was known from another by any naturalist,
American or European. To WILSON, however, is due the merit of having
first published an account of the Long-billed Curlew as a species distinct
from the Common Curlew of Europe.
This bird is the largest of the genus found in North America. The
great length of its bill is of itself sufficient to distinguish it from every
other. The bill, however, in all the species, differs greatly, according
to the age of the individual, and in the present Curlew I have seen it
in some birds nearly three inches shorter than in others, although all
were full grown. In many of its habits, the Long-billed Curlew is closely
allied to the smaller species of Ibis ; its flight and manner of feeding are
similar, and it has the same number of eggs. Unlike the Ibis, however,
which always breeds on trees, and forms a large nest, the Curlew breeds
on the ground, forming a scanty receptacle for its eggs; yet, according
to my friend BACHMAN, the latter, like the former, places its nests " so
close together, that it is almost impossible for a man to walk between
them, without injuring the eggs."
The Long-billed Curlew spends the day in the sea-marshes, from
which it returns at the approach of night, to the sandy beaches of the
sea-shores, where it rests until dawn. As the sun sinks beneath the horizon,
the Curlews rise from their feeding-grounds in small parties, seldom
exceeding fifteen or twenty, and more usually composed of only five 01
six individuals. The flocks enlarge, however, as they proceed, and in
the course of an hour or so the number of birds that collect in the place
selected for their nightly retreat, sometimes amounts to several thousands.
As it was my good fortune to witness their departures and arrivals, in the
company of my friend BACHMAN, I will here describe them.
Accompanied by several friends, I left Charleston one beautiful morning,
the 10th of November 1831, with a view to visit Cole's Island, about
twenty miles distant. Our crew was good, and although our pilot knew
but little of the cuttings in and out of the numerous inlets and channels in
our way, we reached the island about noon. After shooting various birds,
VOL. in. o_