SNIPE, &:^c. 179 



THE WHITE GODWIT. 



(Limosa Edwardsii, Richard. North. Zool. ii. p. 398. in a note. 

 The White Godwit from Hudson's Bay (Fedoa Canadensis, rostro 

 sursum recurvo.) Edwards, pi. 139. posterior figure. 

 Of this bird nothing is yet known beyond Edwards's figure and 

 description, made from a specimen brought from Hudson's Bay by 

 Mr. Isham in 174.5. '• This bird is of the size of the Red-Breasted 

 Godwit (L. Hudsonicus.) and its measures agree pretty nearly there- 

 with, except the Bill, which is rather longer, and turns upwards to- 

 wards the point like that of Avocetta (Recurvirostra.) The bill is of 

 an orange color, but black at the point ; it bends gradually upwards, 

 like a scythe, and is justly represented in the figure. The plumage 

 of this bird is white all over, excepting the tail, the greater quills, 

 and the small feathers on the ridge of the wing, which are of a dirty 

 or yellowish- white ; the covert feathers withinside of the wino-s are 

 light brown ; the legs are bare above the knees ; the outer is joined 

 to the middle toe ; the legs, feet, and claws are all of a dark brown 

 color." — Edwards. 



SNIPE, &LC. (ScoLOPAX, Lin.) 



With the bill long, straight, slender and compressed, soft and 

 flexible; the point depressed, dilated, tumid, and obtuse, minutely 

 tuberculated or dotted, projecting over the lower mandible : both 

 mandibles furrowed to the middle. Nostrils in the furrow of the 

 bill, basal, lateral, linear, pervious, covered by a membrane. Feet 

 and legs moderate, slender, 4-toed, naked space on the tibia small ; 

 fore toes entirely divided.* Wings moderate, the 1st and 2d pri- 

 maries nearly of equal length, and longest in the wing. Tail short 

 and rounded, of from 12 to 16 or more feathers. 



The head large, compressed, low in front and high behind; the 

 eyes large, placed high and far back in the head, so as to give a 

 stupid appearance to the bird, for which it is indeed characteristic. 



* The outer united to the middle toe in the subgenus, Macroramphus. 



