GRALLATORES. 183 



length of leg. In the Blacktailed Godwit the tarsus 

 measures three inches, and the bare part of the tibia 

 one inch and three-quarters ; whereas, in the Bar- 

 tailed Godwit, the tarsus measures but two inches, 

 and the bare part of the tibia only three-quarters of 

 an inch. In addition to this, a closer inspection 

 will show a marked difference in the tail-feathers, a 

 difference sufficiently indicated by the names which 

 have been given to each. An examination of some 

 specimens in April and May showed the food to 

 consist chiefly of small univalve shell-fish. 



The Blacktailed Godwit is the rarer of the two 

 species in England, although, curiously enough, its 

 eggs are far oftener met with than those of its con- 

 gener. It has occasionally been found breeding in 

 our fens, which has never been the case with L. rufa. 



Mr. Yarrell, in his * History of British Birds,' 

 referring to the occurrence of this species in 

 England, notices three examples which appeared 

 at Kingsbury Reservoir in spring ; and the occur- 

 rence of this rare wader in the county is also re- 

 corded in ' The Zoologist' for 1843. 



Bartailed Godwit, Limosa rufu. Examples of 

 this, the Common Godwit, have occasionally been 

 found at our reservoirs and on marshy ground, but 

 it is a scarce and uncertain visitant. 



An experienced wild-fowler informs us that the 

 Godwits come with an east wind, and are more 

 plentiful in mild winters than in severe ones. At 



E 2 



