SCOLOPACID.E — THE SXIPE FAMILY — LIMOSA. 261 



This species resembles somewhat the European L. cegocephala, having the tail marked much the 

 same as in that species. The lattei", however, has two white patches on the wing (which in the 

 present bird has no white at all, except the shafts of the primaries), the axillars pure white instead 

 of brownish bh\ck. There ai'e also other differences of coloration, while the proportions are quite 

 different, L. cegocephala having the l)ill and legs much longer. 



South American specimens are quite identical with northern ones. 



Much remains to be ascertained before the history of the habits and distribution 

 of this Godwit can be given with tolerable accuracy or completeness. It appears to 

 have a somewhat irregular distribution over the United States, occurring in some 

 seasons in great abundance in regions where it was not known before, or where, in 

 succeeding j-ears, it has been of only irregular and occasional appearance. In the 

 United States it is only known as migratory, breeding north of the limits of the 

 Union, and in regions farther north than those in Avhich the fedoa has been found. 

 Its presence in Patagonia, as also in the Falkland Islands, is equally suggestive of a 

 wide, and perhaps irregular, distribution. 



It is not given by Dr. Gundlach as occurring in Cuba ; but is mentioned by Leo- 

 taud as one of the birds of the Island of Trinidad, where it is spoken of as much more 

 common than the/t?rfc»«, coming in August, and leaving in October. It is always 

 found in either the immature or the winter plumage, and is only to be met with on 

 the borders of the sea. 



Mr. G. C. Taylor mentions finding this species abundant on the shores of Fonseca 

 Bay, where it is in the habit of sitting on the branches of the mangrove-trees which 

 overhang the water. He considered it excellent eating. 



]V[r. H. Durnford (••'Ibis," 1877, p. 43), in Ids Observations relative to the Birds 

 observed by him in the Valley of the Chupat, in Patagonia, states that during his 

 visit there in November, 1876, a small party of this GodAvit was always to be found 

 in the shallow Avater at the Avest end of a large lagoon to the north of the Adllage. 

 They Avere feeding in company Avith Tringa 'maculata and a species — unidentified — 

 of JEgialitls. On the 13th of ]S"ovember he procured two examples. 



Mr. C. C. Abbott (-'Ibis,*' 1861) mentions finding docks of this species at Mare 

 Harbor, Falkland Islands, in the month of May, 1860. He shot tAvo of them at Port 

 Louis on the 20th of that month. Both had the red-barred breast, and Avere therefore 

 in the Avinter plumage. He did not notice the presence of this bird in those islands 

 during the winter months ; and CA^en Avhen found there in the summer, he has never 

 heard of its eggs having been detected. It Avas very AA^ary, and difficult to prociire. 



Hearne, in his book of Arctic travels, published more than a century since, refer- 

 ring to this species as the " Red Godwaite," states that it Avas then generally knoAvn 

 at the more northern settlements on Hudson's Bay as a Plover. He mentions that 

 it visited the shores of that portion of the bay in very large flocks, and usually fre- 

 quented the marshes and the margins of ponds. It also frequently attended the tide, 

 in the manner of the " Esquimaux CurleAV " {Numenius Hudsonicus), flying doAvn to 

 the Avater's edge and feeding on a small fish not jnuch unlike a shrimp ; but as the 

 tide advances, retiring to the marshes. The birds Avere said to fly in such large 

 flocks, and so closely together, that he was often able to kill as many as twelve at 

 one shot. And he further states that a Mr. Anderson, long a resident at Fort York, 

 actually killed seventy-two of this species at one discharge ; but this was after they 

 had alighted on the shore. Xear Churchill Eiver they were seldom very fat, though 

 in tolerable condition, and they Avere said to be generally \'ery good eating. They 

 usually weighed from ten to thirteen ounces. The tAvo sexes differ both in color and 

 size, the female being ahvays larger and of a much lighter brown than the male. 



