OF NORTH AMERICA. fie 
85. MARBLED GODWIT. MARLIN. 
Limosa fedoa. 
Predominating color dark brown, variegated 
with reddish-brown spots and markings. ‘The 
under parts are of a rusty color, and the 
markings are finer. The bill is long, curved 
aA ® 
upwards slightly, flesh-colored, with dark- 
brown tip. Legs long, blackish. Length 18 
inches; extent about 33 inches. Eyes brown. 
Distinguishing Features. — Rump and up- 
per side of tail barred; lining of wings red- 
dish ; markings on under side in short streaks ; 
bill 4 to 43 inches long. 
This, one of the largest of our “shore 
birds,” is not very common on our Eastern 
shores, but will be found in goodly numbers 
south of Cape Hatteras, where they congre- 
gate on the marshes; in the interior they fre- 
quent the wet prairies. They are shy birds, 
but come to decoy well, and, if one is 
wounded, the others will often hover over, 
affording another shot, if the gunner is not 
in too much of a hurry, and will call them 
back. 
