THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 155 



which he remarks, " It was by itself and in good 

 condition, so it is strange what it was doing in this 

 country so long after the departure of its companions'' 

 (Zool. 1876. p. 4992). Dr. Elliot writes to me of 

 this species as observed near Kingsbridge, " Not 

 numerous as a rule, but some come every autumn 

 and spring. In the spring of 1876, during 

 continuous east wind, a large flock estimated at 

 from two to three hundred birds came into the 

 estuary." Mr. Gatcombe independantly remarks, 

 that an unusual number of Bar-tailed Godwits in 

 spring plumage made their appearance on the Coasts 

 of Devon and Cornwall in May, 1876, and many 

 were killed. The females as usual exceeded the 

 males in size and length of bill, but possessed "far 

 less red on the plumage" (Zool. 1876. p. 4992). 

 Those that Gatcombe dissected proved to have been 

 feeding on "sand hoppers." 



BLACK-TAILED GODWIT.— Zw^osa helgica (Gmel). 



A RARE visitant to the estuaries of N. and S. Devon 

 during the autumn months. It has occurred 

 possibly in spring, for a bird in full summer dress, 

 shot on the Exe, is preserved in the Exeter Museum; 

 but Mr. G. F. Mathew records that a Black-tailed 

 Godwit, killed on the river Taw in the autumn of 

 1859, proved to be "in fine summer plumage." 

 The same gentlemen records a young bird of this 

 species, shot on the banks of the Taw in September, 

 1868 (Zool. 1868. p. 1459). Dr. Elliot telJs me 



