BLACK-TAILED GODWIT 97 



the most variable birds ia dimensions that exist, if indeed it 

 does not surpass any in this respect. Weights run from less 

 than half a pound in the case of the smallest males to within 

 an ounce of a pound for big females, the birds of this sex running 

 far larger than their mates, though there are plenty of big males 

 larger than many females. 



The bill of the godwit is not sharp like a stork's, but blunt 

 and overshot at the tip, much like a woodcock's, though not 

 sensitive ; one would never expect a bird with this type of beak 

 to eat grain, yet this species is quite as fond of grain as any 

 partridge or duck, and feeds by preference on rice whenever 

 it gets the chance, as well as on millet and grass seed. It 

 does, however, also devour worms, grubs, shrimps and shell- 

 fish, the ordinary sort of food one would expect a long-billed 

 wader to take, in fact. Whatever the food is, the bird's 

 flavour is uncommonly good, and Hume considered rice- 

 fattened plump specimens as good as the woodcock or jack- 

 snipe, though with a different flavour. 



It is fortunate therefore that these birds, though often seen 

 in ones or twos, are also commonly found in large flocks, and 

 are widely though locally distributed during the cold weather, 

 the only time when they are to be found in India. They are 

 not to be expected in any numbers before the end of October, 

 but few stay on till the beginning of April. During their 

 season they may be met with here and there all over the 

 Empire, except in the Andamans and Nicobars, but are rare 

 in all the southern provinces, and not common east of Bengal. 

 The commoner they are, the larger the flocks met with, and the 

 easier are the birds to get near. They frequent both the coast 

 and inland waters, keeping away from cover, and wading, or resting 

 on one leg, in the shallow margins of swamps and j heels. They 

 feed, being so fond of rice, in the rice-fields by preference, and 

 will do so either by day or night, according to the amount of 

 disturbance they have been meeting with. 



Their resting, as opposed to feeding, places are the shallows 



above mentioned, but here also they pick up a good deal of food, 



both on land and in the water. Their flight is straight, fast and 



high, though, like so many excellent fliers, they rise heavily. If 



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