272 LIMOSA /EGOCEPHALA. 



scapulars black, tipped and marginally barred or spotted with 

 light red ; the wings, tail, and its coverts as in winter. 



Female in Summer. — Similar to the male. 



Habits. — The Black-tailed Godwit, which is rather in- 

 aptly named, inasmuch as its tail has as much white as black, 

 is of much less frequent occurrence in England than the Bar- 

 tailed, and apparently still rarer in Scotland, although, as 

 Mr. Selby states that it is not unfrequently seen on the 

 coasts of Northumberland and other northern districts, it is 

 very probably not extremely uncommon on the east coast of 

 the southern and middle divisions of that country. It is 

 stated in the Statistical Account, to be one of the birds that 

 frequent the Montrose Basin, and to have been shot at Logie 

 and Kinnordy in the same county. In Aberdeenshire one 

 individual, at least, has been shot. The Rev. Mr. Smith, 

 Monquhithcr, writes me : — " In the end of July, 1826, — an 

 unusually hot year, by the way — I saw a very fine specimen 

 of the Black-tailed Godwit shot, as it rose from among the 

 reeds surrounding the Loch of Strathbeg. Instead of being 

 preserved, it was cooked, and proved to be excellent eating." 

 In Mr. Thompson's Natural History of Ireland, it is said to 

 " frequent the coast in autumn and winter — more especially 

 at the former season — in very limited numbers." Its habits 

 have not apparently been subjected to very close scrutiny ; but 

 it is easy to say, and probable enough, that they resemble those 

 of the other species. " The food of the Black-tailed Godwit," 

 Mr. Selby says, " consists of insects and worms, obtained by 

 probing the mud and soft sand with its long bill ; and it is 

 then frequently seen wading tolerably deep in the water, 

 immersing the head at intervals, and searching the deposit 

 beneath. This habit accounts for the great development of 

 that gland, which appears to secrete a fluid for lubricating 

 and protecting the eyes of such birds as are accustomed to 

 have the head frequently sub-merged; and it accordingly 

 exists to the greatest extent in the order Natatores, or true 

 Water Birds." I apprehend, however, that this cannot be 

 the use of the gland in question, because its duct passes into 



