a BAR-TAILED GODWIT. 259 
In their spring migration these birds are not entirely 
confined to the vicinity of the sea-coast, as, on the 10th 
of May, 1858, two males and two females were observed 
by the Rev. T. J. Blofeld on a drained marsh at 
Hoveton, and one pair remained long enough for him 
to examine them carefully with a glass, the female 
approaching within shot. A pair were also seen by 
him, on the same marsh, on the 9th of May, 1861, which 
seemed so tame, being unmolested, that he began to 
hope they might remain to breed, but after the third 
day they disappeared altogether. I may here also add 
that, differing from almost all our migratory waders, 
I have never known stragglers of this species killed 
during the months of June and July ; but their reappear- 
ance early in autumn is a matter of common observation. 
Messrs. Sheppard and Whitear have recorded one, 
killed in the beginning of August, as still retaining the 
full summer plumage, and I have seen similar specimens 
about the same date. On the 13th of September, 1865, 
I saw four or five couples in the Norwich market, of 
which one had scarcely commenced its autumnal change, 
and the rest retained much of their summer garb; 
which agrees with Mr. Dowell’s experience at Blakeney, 
who says that in August, September, and October, small 
flocks are found frequenting the Blakeney harbour, and 
are for the most part very tame, feeding up to within a 
few yards of one’s feet when quietly watching them. 
Some of these in September were still slightly red- 
breasted, but a bird shot on the 5th of October had 
completed its winter grey. 
During the winter months a few pairs still linger 
about our shores, and are met with even during the 
sharpest weather. In January, 1847, Mr. Dowell had 
several brought to him in winter plumage by a Blakeney 
gunner, and has seen stragglers himself in Blakeney 
harbour, during the same month. From my own notes 
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