NESTS AND EGGS OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 131 



ing out in long lines in order that they may not interfere with one an- 

 other, and many lonely reaches of sea board, from Maine to Florida, are 

 enlivened by the presence of these true children of the sand. The San- 

 derlings arrive in New England in August, remain until quite late, then 

 gradually move southward. They are abundant from the Carolinas to 

 Key West during winter, but migrate northward in May." The eggs are 

 placed on the ground in a slight depression, on a little grass, etc. 



543. Marbled Godvvit — limosa fceda. Creamy-buff or light olivea- 

 cious-drab spotted and blotched, rather sparsely, with yellowish and um- 

 ber-brown of varying shades, long oval; size about 2.28 by 1.60; three or 

 four in number. The Great Marbled Godwit, or Marlin, inhabits the en- 

 tire temperate North America, and it is a common bird during the migra- 

 tions and in winter. It breeds chiefly in the Mississippi and Eastern Mis- 

 souri regions in Iowa, Minnesota and Dakota, thence to the Saskatche- 

 wan. This is the largest of the "Bay birds," except the Long-billed 

 Curlew, and can readily be distinguished, its bill being either straight or 

 bent a little upward, and not decurved like the Curlew's. It frequents 

 muddy pools, sandy shores and marshes, usually in flocks of greater or less 

 extent. The bird is held in high esteem for the table, and they are 

 eagerly hunted by the gunners when flocks of ten or a dozen birds appear 

 on the marshes. The sportsmen call them "Dough" or "Doe" Birds. 

 The eggs are placed on the ground in a slight hollow. 



545. Hudsonian Godwit — limosa h.emastica. Heavily shaded olive- 

 drab, almost as dark as in a Loon's egg, obscurely spotted and blotched 

 with dark brown ; usually four in number; size 2.18 by 1.40. The Hud- 

 sonian Godwit, though not common anywhere in the United States, is 

 distributed throughout North America generally, but has not been ob- 

 served west of the Rocky Mountains. It passes the winter South of the 

 United States and breeds in the most northern .sections of the country. It 

 associates with L. fccda, and has the same habits and characteristics, 

 and is called by the gunners the " Smaller Doe bird." American Black- 

 tailed Godwit and Ring-tailed Marlin are its other names. 



548. Greater Yellow-legs; Tell-tale — totanus melanoleucus. Grayish- 

 white, marked with spots of dark-brown, varying in intensity of shade, 

 tQgether with obscure shell markings of lilac. The markings are over the 

 entire surface, but more numerous at the larger end; three or four in num- 

 ber; size from 1.70 to 1.80 long by 1.20 to 1.38 broad. The Greater 

 Tell-tale is found in North America at large, and breeds in the Arctic re- 



