The spring is their season, for breeding, and the northern
regions the place they prefer for this purpose. They are monogamous*
lay four or five pyriform eggs, which are deposited with
little a tt on a few bits of speeds or grass placed in the midst of
' tufts, or in small bushes, <for shelter ; sometimes they are merely
dropped in sand-holes, or on wild open shores. BothbfeXfes sit on
the eggs; but the young receive little attention from their'parents,
and almost as soon as hatched provide for themselves, without
requiring their assistance.
This genus, though by no means numerous in species* is not
confined to any particular regions of either continent / -font is
distributed every where along the shores from the' frozen regions
of thn North; to those of the South Pole, and they appear also in
tbe torrid .zone in winter. Their migrations may be traeed from
North to South according to* the seasons. They pass the winter
in our temperate regiqns, generally returning in May from the
South, and in September from the North.
.. In .the economy of. nature, these birds seem to be ^ some
importance in preventing the superabundant multipMeation of
numerous marine animals, thus assisting- to maintain the equilibrium
and preserve the harmony of the Animal.Kingdom; a-s
the Elycatching birds serve to cheek the too great increase of
land insects. ' It is perhaps -on this account that th ey ,are s®
generally diffused. In relation to man they appear to be of no
less importance, since without being delicious, their flesh is very
palatable, and even, when .they have fed and fattened-on berries,.
and excellent meat: when their nourishment has been
-derived fpbm the sea it is much inferior. They are pursued both
in Europe, and America iq various *ways, and brought in numbers
to the city markets. In some districts their feggs are much’ sought
after, but . those of other aquatic birds are mixed with them, and
offered for sale under the same name.
• Wherever the> Curlews may be classed by ornithologists, their
rank in tbé<*system of Natwfdls at the head of the family Limicolse,
which they connect-with the Faledti. Their linear place, therefore,
is between the genera Ibis of the latter, and Tfifiga of their' own
family*:, sp^tdes of1 the latter genus are so-cloeely related to them
as almost to. fluctuate between the W£o genera. There -fe n
striking affinitynora^tMfe ohsfe shit^f specie® of Ibis
and Numeniusj and >on the other between*the'smaller JYumenii
andf ^rmg-iB with sMghtly curved- bills»-Still ïfl* Tringa subarquata,
ibd''-®ls#^iOs#iWlth semipalmatediwfocti hufe especially when
combine both these characters, a® ©«esiil# Tringa himantopus. P -Ita
tfeif own very natural family,- the Curlews a^éa®** immediately
•related to, Tringa and IJmosm, both in aspect and manners. The
genus Scolppasz. we do not ©onside'r as approaching them Within
several degrees,
i Cuvier bad attempted to divide this genus into two independent
subgenera, but unsUecessfully, and they must b e relinquished
even as sections, inasmuch as- the characters on which they are
based have no existeneè in nasteBÉse* as he has sinee virtually
acknowledged by omitting all mention of the. group Fhseopus in
his new edition of the Règne Animal. TMsdSs in fact one of thoSe
veey natural small genera which do not admit .even of well based
sections. If the species were numerous, .we might perhaps divide
them into those with white rumps, and those which have no white
on that part« or into those showing the crown of the-head marked
a central line, and those without thiO.Mffl®. ■ There being however
but few species, -we consider it tq be more philosophical to'view
them as an undivided gejms,’beginning With the larger and ending
with the smaller speeies : but - at all. events: the marks we - have
indicated, (of the head and croupe,) together with those of the
under wing»coverts and long axillary, feathers, furnish ns with
what wè have ealled the; plqe qf the genus. For example, the