BAR- TAILED GODWIT. 495 



observed until May, and Mr. Stevenson says that the 12th of 

 that month is known to the Breydon gunners as " Godwit 

 day." By this time the adult birds have assumed the rich 

 red nuptial garb, and it was from a Yarmouth example that 

 the figure of the male bird in perfect summer plumage as 

 here represented standing up, was taken. The birds of the 

 year are later in assuming this ruddy tint, and some of 

 these non-breeders remain on the coast throughout the 

 summer ; a circumstance which, coupled with the late stay 

 of some of the adults, has given rise to unfounded surmises 

 that this species has bred in the British Islands. For in- 

 stance, Dr. Dewar shot five specimens on the 26th Jime, 

 1858, on Bernera, in the Sound of Harris, and he informed 

 Mr. Gray that they had apparently paired and seemed by 

 their habits to have their nests at no great distance (B. of 

 W. of Scot. p. 306). In Ireland this species is tolerably 

 common in autumn and winter, and on its spring migration 

 it particularly affects the west coast, assembling on the 

 estuary of the Moy, according to Mr. "Warren (Zool. 1877, 

 p. 288), in large flocks early in March, and increasing in 

 numbers up to April, when some leave, although many 

 remain through May and June. On the 11th June, 1872, 

 he saw a flock of over a hundred birds near Bartragh, all in 

 the pale plumage of immaturity, and amongst many similar 

 assemblages he has detected very few red-breasted ones. 

 On migration, examples of the Bar-tailed Godwit are occa- 

 sionally obtained in some of the inland counties ; and as 

 regards the direction of the spring flight, it Avould seem that 

 the main body cross to Scandinavia from Norfolk and Lin- 

 colnshire, comparatively few being seen to the north of the 

 Humber in breeding-plumage. 



The Bai'-tailed Godwit is only a migrant along the greater 

 part of the coast of Norway : its breeding-range commenc- 

 ing in Finmark, where Canoii Tristram states that he ob- 

 tained eggs. In Lapland the late Mr. "Wolley and others 

 procured authentic eggs ; and it probably nests throughout 

 Finland and Northern Russia, and Siberia. It is, however, a 

 rare visitant to Archanfjel. and Messrs. Harvie-l^rown and 



