566 CHARADRIIDA. 
Q mari similis, vix major. 
Pl. estiv. Subtus striis et maculis brunneis magis distincte notatus. 
Hab. Nort Amenica, breeding in the extreme north, wintering chiefly south of the 
United States *.—Mexico, Mazatlan (Grayson ®, Kegel’, Forrer >), Rio Zacatula 
(Xantus*), Ventosa Bay, Tehuantepec (Swmichrast®); Guatemata, Lagoon of 
Chiapam (0. S.4°15); Honpuras, Fonseca Bay (Taylor *); Costa Rica (v. Frant- 
zius ®), Punta Arenas (Zeledon !*), San Lucas (Underwood, in litt.).—SourH AMERICA 
generally in winter }©; Gatapagos Is.), 
This species belongs to the group of Whimbrels, and, like the European W. phwopus, 
has a pale streak down the middle of the crown, the sides of which form a broad 
lateral band of black. NV. hudsonicus is a much smaller bird than J. longirostris, and 
is distinguished by its dusky axillaries and under wing-coverts, which are barred with. 
brown and pale rufous. 
Its breeding-range extends far to the north, and in winter the bird wanders over the 
greater part of the Neotropical Region. In Honduras, Cavendish Taylor found the 
species abundant on the shores of Fonseca Bay, sitting on the branches of the mangrove- 
trees overhanging the water®. Salvin also found it very abundant about the lagoons 
of Chiapam °. 
The habits of this Whimbrel are apparently very similar to those of the European 
species, and, like the latter, it frequents the shores and mud-flats during migration, 
being generally found in small companies; in these situations its food consists of 
worms, small molluscs, &c., but in more northern latitudes berries form a staple article 
of diet. 
The nest is a depression in the ground with a few dead leaves for lining; the eggs 
are four in number, of a creamy-drab colour, spotted with slaty brown !4, 
LIMOSA. 
Limosa, Briss. Orn. v. p. 261 (1760) ; Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxiv. p. 372 (1896). 
The Godwits differ from the Curlews in having the bill straight or only slightly 
upturned ; it is of considerable length, exceeding the dimensions of the tail. 
The typical forms (Limosa) have a world-wide distribution, but the range of some 
of them, both in the Old World and the New, is rather peculiar. Five species are 
known, and of these L. /apponica breeds in the arctic regions of Europe and Siberia 
and winters in the subtropical portions of the Old World, like Z. fedoa of America, 
whereas L. nove-zealandie, L. egocephala, and L. hudsonica, which breed further 
north, extend their winter range into the southern hemispheres. 
Only one, L. fedoa, appears to occur within our limits on its migrations, the two 
other American species of the genus apparently passing to their winter homes by other 
routes than through Central America. 
