72 ESQUIMAUX CURLEW.
small, second and fourth about equal, third considerably longer. Claws
small, compressed, blunt, that of middle toe much longer, curved outwards,
with a sharp dilated inner edge.
Plumage soft and blended, on the fore part of the head very short.
Wings rather long, very acute, narrow, the first quill longest, the second
a little shorter, the rest regularly and rapidly graduated; secondaries
short, incurved, rounded, excepting some of the inner, which are greatly
elongated and tapering. Tail short, nearly even, of twelve rounded
feathers.
Bill brownish-black, the lower mandible flesh-coloured at the base.
Iris dark brown. Feet greyish-blue, claws black. The upper part of
the head is brownish-black, streaked with pale yellowish-brown, and having
an indistinct central line of the latter. The back is also brownishblack,
marked with numerous spots of light brownish-yellow, there being
several along the margin of each feather. Wing-coverts and secondaries
of a lighter brown, similarly spotted; alula, primary coverts and quills
unspotted, the shafts of most of the latter pale brown, but of the outer
white. Tail pale greyish-brown, with light deep brown bars, and tipped
with brownish-white. Sides of the head, and the neck all round, pale
yellowish-brown, striped with dark brown; breast and sides of the same
tint, with longitudinal and transverse dark markings. Lower wing-coverts
and lower tail-coverts similarly barred ; axillar feathers regularly banded,
and of a deeper tint. Abdomen without markings. Throat and a line
over the eye nearly white.
Length to end of tail 144, t o e n d of wings 14?, to end of claws 16J ;
wing from flexure 8£, tail 3£ ; extent of wings 27f ; bill along the
back 2 | , along the edge 2^; tarsus lf t
, middle toe \ \ , its claw
T
2 Weight I lb.
Adult Female. Plate CCVIII. Fig. 2.
The Female resembles the male, and is scarcely inferior in size.
( 73 )
W I L S O N ' S P L O V E R.
CHARADRIUS WILSONIUS, ORD.
PLATE CCIX. MALE AND FEMALE.
READER, imagine yourself standing motionless on some of the sandy
shores between South Carolina and the extremity of Florida, waiting with
impatience for the return of day;—or, if you dislike the idea, imagine
me there. The air is warm and pleasant, the smooth sea reflects the
feeble glimmerings of the fading stars, the sound of living thing is not
heard; nature, universal nature, is at rest. And here am I, inhaling
the grateful sea-air, with eyes intent on the dim distance. See the bright
blaze that issues from the verge of the waters ! and now the sun himself
appears, and all is life, or seems to be ; for as the influence of the Divinity
is to the universe, so is that of the sun to the things of this world.
Far away beyond that treacherous reef, floats a gallant bark, that seems
slumbering on the bosom of the waters like a silvery sea-bird. Gentle
breezes now creep over the ocean, and ruffle its surface into tiny wavelets.
The ship glides along, the fishes leap with joy, and on my ear comes the
well known note of the bird which bears the name of one whom every ornithologist
must honour. Long have I known the bird myself, and yet
desirous of knowing it better, I have returned to this beach many successive
seasons for the purpose of observing its ways, examining its nest,
marking the care with which it rears its young, and the attachment which
it manifests to its mate. Well, let the scene vanish ! and let me present
you with the results of my observations.
WILSON'S Plover ! I love the name because of the respect I bear towards
him to whose memory the bird has been dedicated. How pleasing,
I have thought, it would have been to me, to have met with him on such
an excursion, and, after having procured a few of his own birds, to have
listened to him as he would speak of a thousand interesting facts connected
with his favourite science and my ever-pleasing pursuits. How delightful
to have talked, among other things, of the probable use of the double claws
which I have found attached to the toes of the species which goes by his
name, and which are also seen in other groups of shore and sea birds. Perhaps
he might have informed me why the claws of some birds are pectinated