with their integument reticulated: the three fore toes are short,
fimbriated, seutellated beneath, all connected' at base by a short
membrane extending to the first articulation; the hind toe is
inserted high upon the tarsus, slender, short, but longer than a
phalanx of the fore toes, bearing on the ground only at tip ; the
claws are arcuate, rather, short, bluntish; the "cutting edge of the
middle one being entire,
The wings are long, acute, falciform, with from twenty-eight to
thirty stiff quills: the first primary,is longest; the scapular^ are
elongated. The tail, rather short, is somewhat rounded, and of
twelve feathers.
They moult once annually: the females perfectly resemble the
males in colour, and the young only differ, but can be known at
ofifee, by their bill being-much shorter and less bent.
Possessing numerous general features common to the Waders
of their family, and a few of those which distinguish the Ibis and
Tantali, the Cur,lews have nevertheless some peculiar traits qf
their own more easy to- perceive than to define. Their physiognomy
may be thus described. They have a rather small head;
with a remarkably long, slender, and arched beak, lohgish neck,
and body deeper than broad, and apparently gibbous. The
wings are long, the tail moderate, the feet rather slender, though,
not so much so as in the allied genera, and bare-for a considerable
space above the heel (commonly, but improperly called the knee)..
The toes remarkably short and stout. The plumage of the Cur-,
lews is composed of a rather thick covering of somewhat loose,
though -silky feathers, abundantly furnished with down. The
colours, consisting of a mixture of grayish brown, white, and
blackish, are very dull, and hardly vary in the different species.
The sexes are not distinguishable by difference of colour or
stature; the female is perhaps a trifle smaller than the male.
The young scarcely differ in plumage from the adults, but are
ESQUIMAUX. CURLEW. 121
well marked by their much shorter Und straighter bill. They
moult but pace during the year, arid late in the season. We have
detected a clue to -the species in t the medial line of the crown,
the colour of thh rump and Of the under wing-coverts and long
axillary feathers.
The Curlews are mute, timid, s h y : 'a n d . / - T h e y , frequent
and‘seek their food in salt marshes, and 'along muddy coasts and
inlets; where at low water they may fee observed in company,
with other Waders .on the mud flats,*oc. a t high water roaming
along the marshes. They hut seldom alight on wet sands, and
only when muddy shores are not to he'found; always preferring
such on account of their flexiblè bill. They seldom desert the
salt water, and are very rarely met with inland, at a distance
from the sea or large riveré.: during summer, however, they often
frequent dry fields in search of berries. They run swiftly, being
much upon the ground: their flight is high, very rapid, and long
sustained. Tim voice Of the Curlews is. loud and whistling:
when about to commence their great ..periodical journies they
congregate in' large flocks, rise to a great height* and extend
themselves- into a' vast line : whilst thus travelling onward,, they
keep up an almost inbessant -whistling, carefully waiting for
each other. These companies only separate during, the breeding
season. In captivity, though they may linger for weeks or
months, they seem to perish at last from the continued operation
of melancholy and want of proper food!.
• Their food is chiefly animal, hnd in a great degree' marine.
They prey indifferently upon worms, insects, mollusca, erustacea,
and occasionally small fish, and are very dexterous in probing
the mud with their long, soft and slender bill, and pulling out of
their holes small shell-fish and crabs. In summer, however, they
are Very fond of berries, especially those of Mubus trivialis or
Dewberries, and Empetrum nigrum, on which they soon fatten.
VOL. iv.—H h