256 THE NESTS AND EGGS OF 



Family CHARADRTID^. Genus LiMOSA. 



Sub-family TOTANINAi. 



BAR-TAILED G O D W I T. 



LiMOSA RUFA, Brisson. 



(British : Common spring and autumn migrant ; some, late in 

 winter.) 



Double Brooded. Laying season, late in May, and early June. 



Breeding area : Northern and Western Pal^arctic 

 region. The Bar-tailed Godwit apparently breeds on 

 the tundras above the limits of forest growth in Arctic 

 Europe and Asia, from Lapland in the west to the 

 valley of the Yenesay in the east. As yet it has only 

 been observed in Lapland actually breeding. 



Breeding habits : The Bar-tailed Godwit begins to 

 leave its winter quarters in Northern Africa in February, 

 and the stream of migrants is slowly percolating north- 

 wards into Europe from that date until the end of April, 

 but the breeding grounds on the Arctic tundras are not 

 reached until the end of May or early in June. During 

 winter this bird is gregarious, as it also is whilst on 

 passage. During the pairing season in spring the male 

 utters a trill whilst in the air. Of the actual breeding 

 habits of this Godwit we possess but little information. 

 Its breeding grounds are known to be the swampy 

 moors of the Arctic regions, but the bird seems very 

 locally distributed over them. Wolley obtained eggs 

 in Finland, and he states that it breeds in marshes, the 

 nest being very hard to find. The nest is described as 

 merely a hollow, in some dry spot, lined with a little 

 dead vegetable refuse. The bird's actions at the nest 

 are not known to differ from those of allied species. 



Range of egg colouration and measurement : 

 The eggs of the Bar-tailed Godwit are four in number. 



