2G4 LIMOSA RUFA. 



Male in Summer. — " Upper part of the head and occiput 

 blackish-brown, mixed with streaks of reddish-yellow ; a 

 band of the latter colour over the eyes ; lore blackish-brown ; 

 cheeks and throat of a yellowish-red ; all the lower part of 

 the body, including the under tail-coverts, pale yellowish- 

 red ; upper part of the back and scapulars blackish-brown, 

 marbled with reddish-yellow and whitish-grey ; lower parts 

 of the back and rump white, marked with longitudinal 

 yellowish-red spots ; the tail marked with brown and white 

 bars, those of the latter tint irregularly distributed, and dis- 

 posed more or less longitudinally ; quills black from their 

 tip, the remaining part toward the base is entirely blackish- 

 brown, but with their inner webs whitish-grey, marbled 

 with pale brown ; the secondaries grey, with the shafts and 

 margins white. Bill much recurved, the greater part of its 

 base yellowish-brown. Length from fourteen inches to six 

 or seven lines more." 



Female in Summer. — " The head and lore as in the 

 male ; throat white, marked with greyish-red ; cheeks and 

 neck very light reddish, with numerous broAvn streaks, which 

 become broader, and form small transverse brown and white 

 bars on the sides of the breast ; the latter and the belly 

 marbled with white and very pale reddish ; the abdominal 

 part white ; the lower tail-coverts reddish-white, with light 

 brown bars. Length sixteen inches two or three lines." 



Habits. — This Godwit arrives in small flocks on the 

 eastern coasts of the northern and middle divisions of Scot- 

 land early in September. Considerable numbers may fre- 

 quently be seen in the Bay of Cromarty, and in the estuaries 

 of the Ythan, South Esk, and Tay. To the north of Aber- 

 deen they appear to remain but a few T weeks. I have also 

 seen them in the beginning of September on the shores of 

 the Firth of Forth, when they frequent more especially the 

 muddy parts at the mouths of streams. At the estuary of 

 the Esk at Musselburgh, it is not uncommon in September 

 and October, generally keeping in small flocks of from six to 

 ten or twelve, most of the individuals being young birds. 



