204 HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS 



between 1829 and 1835 ; although during the suc- 

 ceeding twenty years a pair or two occasionally 

 returned to their old haunts in the spring. The last 

 nest heard of was one containing three eggs, taken 

 at Reedham, Norfolk, in 1857. These eggs were sold 

 at Stevens's, March 23, 1858, and two of them are in 

 the collection of Professor Newton. 



Although I have occasionally met with old and 

 young birds in September in the Sussex harbours, 

 and on Sept. 5, 1873, shot one in Breydon 

 Marshes, Norfolk, I have only once met with this 

 species on the spring migration. On April 23, 

 1868, I fell in with a party of eight of these Godwits 

 on the ooze at Canvey Island, at the mouth of the 

 Thames, and with some difficulty contrived to get 

 within range of them, and shot three. 



The Black-tailed Godwit may be readily distin- 

 guished from the Bar-tailed species by its superior 

 length of leg, and black tail. Moreover, the uniform 

 colour of the under-parts does not extend to the 

 belly, as is the case with the other. The weight 

 varies with age and condition from 12 to 14 oz. 



CURLEW. Numenius arquata^ (Lmndsus). PI. 22, Hg. 8. 

 Length, ^ 21 in., $ 26 in. ; bill, 5 to 6 in. ; wing, 11"5 

 to 12-25 in. ; tarsus, 3 in. 



Resident ; breeding on the moors, heaths, and 

 wastes in Scotland, Northumberland, Derbyshire, 

 Yorkshire, Shropshire, Norfolk, North and South 



1 Arqiuiia is a substantive in apposition and the mediaeval Latin 

 name for this bird. For an adjectival form we might have arcuatua. 



