244 



LIMOSINiE. 



wing-coverts broadly edgod with white, also sorae of the hinder primary 

 coverts ; shoulder of wing dusky brown, also the lower back ; neck in 

 front and flanks greyish white. 



Length.— 16 to 18 inches, wing 775 to 8-75, tail 3-12 to 3-5, bill at 

 front 3" 7 to 4'6, of a dull reddish colour at base and dusky at the tip, 

 legs dusky greenish, irides dark brown. 



Hah. — Nearly throughout India during winter. Rare in Southern 

 India, the Concan and the Deccan. Common in Kutch, Kattiawar 

 and Rajputana, also in Beloochistan, Persia and Afghanistan. In 

 Sind this species is numerous every where behind the tall grass, along 

 the edges of the Munchur Lake, in the shallow pools, wading up to 

 their body, and often swimming across deeper spots if beyond its 

 standing depth. It is held in much esteem for the table, being equal 

 to jack and the common snipe, especially those that have been feeding 

 in rice fields. 



Limosa lapponica. The Bar-tailed Godwit. 



Limosa lapponica, Lin. ; P. E. 900 ; Gould. B. Eur. pi. 306 ; 



Hume, Str. F. i. p. 236; Murray, HdhJc., Zool., Sfc, Sind, p. 216. — 

 The Bar-tailed Godwit. 



" In the winter plumage there is a broad indistinct white superciliary 

 band, and the feathers immediately below the eye are also white ; the 

 chin and throat are pure white ; the forehead, the whole top, back and 

 sides of the head, and the neck all round brownish white, closely 

 streaked with darker brown, the streaks very minute on the sides of 

 the head, somewhat larger on the front of the neck, and darker and 

 stronger on the head and back of the neck, where but little of the 

 white remains visible. The upper back pale earthy brown, each 

 feather with a narrow dark brown central shaft-stripe and mostly 

 margined somewhat paler. The breast pale greyish brown, more or 

 less obscured by the albescent tippings to the feathers, and some of the 

 feathers with inconspicuous darker shafts ; the feathers of the central 



