100 THE BIRDS OF NORTHAMPTOy SHIRE 



Redshanks in their company, they had early and full 

 warning of approaching danger, and their ranks 

 were not materially damaged by us. The flesh of 

 the Bar-tail is very good in August and September, 

 and by no means bad in spring, though not, in 

 my opinion, at any time to compare with that of its 

 congener the Black-tailed Godwit, Limosa melanura^ 

 a species that I have not admitted into these Notes, 

 as I never handled a Northamptonshire specimen, 

 though I feel convinced that a few frequented our 

 swampy meadows in the spring of 1853, to which I 

 have previously referred in treating of the Ruff. 

 I have met with the subject of the present article on 

 many parts of the Mediterranean shores, and killed 

 one in the harbour of Santander, in full nuptial 

 plumage, in May 1876 ; but it was not abundant on 

 the great plains of the Guadalquivir at the same 

 season of 1872, where summer-plumaged Knots were 

 in countless thousands, and other northern breeders 

 also in very great numbers. I have kept Bar-tailed 

 Godwits frequently in the aviaries at Lilford ; they 

 thrive fairly well, as a rule, but are more restless in 

 captivity than most of our Waders, and have never, 

 in my possession, assumed more than a few red 

 feathers in the summer. 



161. COMMON CURLEW. 



JViDiien/'us arquafa. 



A few Caiiews pass southwards along the Nen 

 valley in th'S neighbourhood of Lilford in July, 

 August, and September, and I generally hear of two 

 or three in the spring months, but they seldom 



