four eggs have a
brownish buff ground color and are blotched with blackish brown. Size
2.25 x 1.60. Data.--McKenzie River, Arctic America. Nest a pile of
grass, moss and weeds on an island in the river.

[Illustration 161: Greenish buff.]
[Illustration: Long-billed Curlew. Hudsonian Curlew.]
[Illustration: Brownish buff.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]

Page 160

266. ESKIMO CURLEW. _Numenius borealis._

Range.--Eastern North America, breeding in the Arctic regions and
wintering in South America; migrating through the eastern half of the
United States, more abundantly in the interior than on the coast.

A still smaller species than the last (length 14 inches) and very
similar to it. A few years ago this was considered the most abundant of
the curlews, but so persistently have they been hunted that they are now
practically exterminated. They were the most unsuspicious of the shore
birds, and would allow the near approach of the gunner, and the penalty
may now be seen. Only a short while ago they were very often found,
during migration, in company with other waders such as the Golden or
Black-bellied Plovers. Their nests are simply hollows in the plains,
lined with a few grasses, dried leaves, or moss. The three or four eggs
are the same as the last for color but are smaller; size 2.00 x 1.45.

267. WHIMBREL. _Numenius phaeopus._

A European species casually appearing in Greenland; very similar to the
Hudsonian Curlew, but with the rump white.

This species is known as the Jack Curlew in England and Scotland, where
it is very abundant, and is a favorite game bird. It breeds in the
northern parts of Europe and Asia, and in the extreme north of Scotland
and on the Shetland Islands. The eggs are laid in hollows on the ground
on higher parts of the marshes. The three or four eggs have an olive or
greenish brown color and are blotched with dark brown. Size 2.30 x 1.60.
Data.--Native, Iceland, May 29, 1900. Six eggs. Nest a depression in the
ground, lined with dried grass.

268. BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW. _Numenius tahitiensis._

Range.--Islands and coast on the Asiatic side of the Pacific; casually
found in Alaska. A very peculiar species with many of the feathers on
the flanks terminating in long bristles.

[Illustration 162: Eskimo Curlew.]
[Illustration: Olive brown.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]

Page 161

PLOVERS. Family CHARADRIIDAE

Plovers are stouter built birds than those of the previou