LIMOSA. GODWIT. 2o9 



and thin, dense, longitudinally rugous epithelium. Intestine 

 of moderate length, narrow ; coeca small and cylindrical. 



Eyes small; eyelids feathered. Nostrils basal, direct, 

 linear. External aperture of ear rather large. Legs slender, 

 of moderate length or long; tibia bare about a third of its 

 length ; tarsus scutellate, before and behind ; toes four, short ; 

 the first very small and elevated ; the anterior scutellate, 

 marginate, flattened beneath, with basal webs, of which the 

 outer is much larger. Claws small, arched, compressed, at 

 the end convex, and obtuse. 



Plumage of the head, neck, and lower parts very soft and 

 blended ; of the upper parts rather compact. Wings long, 

 narrow, pointed, of thirty quills ; the first longest, the other 

 primaries rapidly decreasing ; the inner secondaries much 

 elongated and tapering, but rounded. Tail short, nearly 

 even, of twelve rounded feathers. 



The Godwits are very intimately allied to the Curlews 

 from which they differ, however, in having the bill recurved 

 or straight, in place of being rearcuate ; the tongue long in- 

 stead of short ; the tarsi scutellate instead of being reticulate 

 in part. They also differ in moulting twice every year, and 

 in assuming in spring colours different from those of autumn 

 and winter. Unless during the breeding season, they fre- 

 quent the muddy and sandy shores of estuaries ; but in 

 summer they resort to marshes and the margins of lakes and 

 rivers, where they feed on insects, larvae, worms, and mol- 

 lusca. They form a slight nest, or deposit in a cavity their 

 four pyriform, spotted eggs. In searching for food they dip 

 their bill into the soft mud or sand. That organ, although not 

 so soft, nor so copiously supplied with nervous filaments at 

 the end, is very similar to the bill of the Snipes ; to which 

 the Godwits are also allied, though they have not the same 

 crouching and skulking habits. They are generally shy, 

 but not so readily alarmed as the Curlews, Longshanks, or 

 Tatlers. They walk rather sedately, but also run with great 

 speed on occasion; have a moderately rapid, light, direct 

 flight ; emit loud shrill cries ; and in feeding often mingle 

 with other shore birds. Species of this genus occur in all 

 climates. Two are met with in Britain. 



