[Illustration 160: Buff-breasted Sandpiper. Spotted Sandpiper.] [Illustration: Grayish white.] [Illustration: Buff.] [Illustration: deco.] [Illustration: left hand margin.] Page 159 264. LONG-BILLED CURLEW. _Numenius americanus._ Range.--Breeds in the South Atlantic states and northward in the interior to Manitoba and British Columbia. This is the largest of the family of shore birds, having a length of about 24 inches. Its plumage is of a buffy color, much variegated above with black and brown; the bill is strongly curved downward and is from four to eight inches in length. Their nests are located on the ground in meadows or on the prairies, and three or four eggs are laid, of a buff or greenish buff color, covered with numerous spots of brownish black. Eggs of the common Curlew of Europe, have been very frequently used as belonging to this species, but the eggs of our species have a lighter and more greenish ground, and the spots are smaller and more numerous. Size, 2.50 × 1.80. 265. HUDSONIAN CURLEW. _Numenius hudsonicus._ Range.--Whole of North America, breeding in the Arctic regions and wintering south of the United States. This species is smaller (length 17 inches), darker, more grayish and has a shorter bill than the preceding species. It also has white median and lateral stripes on the top of the head. The nesting habits are the same as those of the Long-billed species; the three or four eggs have a brownish buff ground color and are blotched with blackish brown. Size 2.25 × 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 × 1.45. 267. WHIMBREL. _Numenius phaeopus._ A European species casually appearing in Greenland; very similar to the Hudsonian Curlew, but with the rump white.