CEYLON RAILS, WADERS, GULLS, AND TERNS. 219 
Habits —Much, the same as those of the last species, but 
this bird is not often seen in flocks, and is more fond. of rocky 
shores. Immature specimens sometimes loiter, as I once 
shot one near Hambantota in July. 
Lrmosa BELGICA (Blanford, Vol. IV., p. 254). 
LIMOSA AZGOCEPHALA (Legge, p. 832). 
The Black-tailed Godwit. 
Description.—Winter : General colour above ashy-brown, 
paler on the head and neck, and darkening towards the rump, 
which is blackish-brown. There is an indistinct whitish 
eyebrow and a whitish spot under the eye ; a white band along 
the tips of the greater wing coverts ; primary coverts and 
primaries blackish-brown, with some white on the inner webs 
of all and on the outer webs of the inner primaries ; secondaries 
white with a broad black tip, which diminishes on the inner 
feathers, the outer webs of the inner secondaries being entirely 
white.’ Upper tail coverts and base of tail white ; the outer 
half of the tail blackish, but lighter at the tip. Chin, throat, 
and under parts whitish, darkening on the foreneck and 
breast to grayish-brown. 
Summer: Head, neck, breast, and back rufous, streaked 
with black on the crown and nape, mottled with black on the 
back, and barred with dusky black on the breast ; the bars 
are continued on the abdomen and sides of the body. 
Bill fleshy-red, dusky at the tip ; iris dark brown ; legs and 
feet blackish. 
Length about 17°5; wing 8°5; tail 3; tarsus 3; bill 3 to 4°8. 
Specimens vary greatly in size and in length of bill, females 
are generally larger than males. 
Distribution —A pair was once obtained at Point Pedro. 
Common in Northern India in winter ; rare in Burma, Assam, 
and Southern India. Breeds in temperate Europe and Asia, 
wintering from Southern Europe and North Africa eastwards 
to Australia. 
Habits —May be looked for on the tidal flats along the north 
coast, as possibly a few stragglers now and then visit the 
Island during the winter months. In India it is found inland 
on the edges of tanks and swamps. 
7 6(9)16 
