BAR-TAILED GODWIT. 233 



October, 1883. Mr. VV. C. Blake, of Ross, had a young male 

 Greenshank brought to him on August 20th, 1886, which had 

 been shot on the Wye, near the Weir End; no others were in 

 company with it. 



It is a shy, vigilant bird, and prefers open districts, where it 

 can keep a better look-out against danger. There is a specimen in 

 the Hereford Museum, in the collection of the late Mr. Moss, of 

 Ross, but there is no history attached to it. 



[Genus — Macrorhamphus.] 



[Macrorhamphus griseus — Red-breasted Snipe.] 



A rare straggler to the British Islands. 



Genus— LIMOSA. 

 LIMOSA LAPPONICA— Bar-tailed Godwit. 



The Godwit running by the water's edge 

 The little Curlews creeping from the sedge. 



Jean Ingelow — Four Bridges. 



The Common or Red Godwit, or Red-breasted Snipe as the 

 bird is also called, is very handsome. In winter it frequents 

 the muddy banks of rivers, or oozy banks of estuaries by the 

 sea-side. Its food consists of insects, worms, small crustaceans 

 and mollusks. 



The Bar-tailed Godwit is but rarely met with in Herefordshire. 

 There are only two recorded instances of its occurrence in the 

 county ; the first, mentioned by Mr. Lingwood, was shot on the 

 river Lugg at Mordiford, in 1839 ; and the other on Carey Island, 

 Fawley, in 1879, which bird is now in the Hereford Museum. 



