272 THE BAR-TAILED GODWIT 



through pools of shallow water, and, if so minded, hesitates neither 

 to swim nor to dive. 



Its visits to England are paid most commonly in spring and 

 autumn, while it is on its way to and from the northern climates 

 in which it breeds. ' In Scotland it is seen', says Macgillivray, 

 ' in small flocks here and there along the seashore, by the margins 

 of rivers, and in marshy places breeding there in the north, but it 

 is nowhere common, and in most districts of very rare occurrence. By 

 the beginning of summer it has disappeared from its winter haunts, 

 and advanced northwards ; individuals or pairs remaining here 

 and there in the more northern parts of Scotland, while the rest 

 extend their migration.' The same author describes a nest, which 

 he found in the island of Harris, as very like those of the Golden 

 and Lapwing Plovers, with four eggs, intermediate in size between 

 the eggs of these two birds. Another nest was also found by Selby, 

 in Sutherlandshire. There can be therefore no doubt that the 

 north of Scotland is within the extreme southern limit of its 

 breeding-ground. During the winter it is to be seen in the west of 

 Ireland only. 



THE BAR-TAILED GODWIT 



LIMOSA LAPPONICA 



Beak slightly curved upwards ; middle claw short, without serratures. Winter 

 ■ — upper plumage variously mottled with grey, dusky, and reddish ash ; 

 lower part of the back white, with dusky spots ; tail barred with reddish 

 white and dusky ; lower parts white. Summer — all the plumage deeply 

 tinged with red. Young birds have the throat and breast brownish 

 white, streaked with dusky, and a few dusky lines on the flanks. Length 

 sixteen inches. Eggs unknown. 



On the coast of Norfolk, w^here I made my first acquaintance with 

 this bird in the fresh state, it is called a Half-Curlew. In like 

 manner, a Wigeon is called a Half-Duck. In either case the reason 

 for giving the name is, that the smaller bird possesses half the market 

 value of the larger. It resembles the Curlew in its flight and the 

 colour of its plumage ; but differs in having its long beak slightly 

 curved upwards, while that of the Curlew is strongly arched down- 

 wards ; and it is far less wary, allowing itself to be approached so 

 closely that it falls an easy prey to the fowler. It appears to be 

 most frequently met with in sprintr and autumn, when it visits 

 many parts of the coast in small flocks. In Norfolk it is met with 

 from May, the twelfth of that month being called ' Godwit day,' by 

 the gunners, although it is almost unknown up north at that season. 

 The specimens which were brought to me were shot in the very 

 severe weather which ushered in the year 1861. These birds have 

 nowhere been observed in England later than the beginning of 



