BLACK-TAILED GODWIT. 



SCOLOPACID^.] 



LIMOSA BELGICA (J. F. Gjielin). 



Explanation of Plate. 



Figure 1. Dommclen, North Brabant, May 2, 1890. 

 „ 2. Astrakan, May 4, 1892. 



„ 3. Neer, Holland, June 1, 1892. ' In collection of 



„ 4. Valkenswaard, North Brabant, May 10, 1892. ! H. Massey, Esq. 



„ 5. Ditto. April 25, 1889. \ 



„ 6. Ditto. May 4, 1892. ) 



The Black-tailed Godvvit is an irregular spring and autumn migrant to the 

 British Islands, a few birds occasionally occurring in winter. 



Referring to the geographical distribution of this God wit, Mr. Howard Saunders 

 writes * : — " At the present day this species is chiefly a visitor to our islands on 

 the spring and autumn migrations, a few individuals being sometimes observed in 

 winter; but down to the year 1829 it used to breed in the fens of Lincolnshire 

 and the Isle of Ely, while eggs were taken in Norfolk as recently as 1847. . . . 



" The Black-tailed Godwit has been known to nest in the Faeroes, and does 

 so annually in the south-east of Iceland, where it is known by the name of 

 jadraJcan, or ' earth-raker.' On the Continent it breeds sparsely as far north as 

 lat. 64:°-65° in Scandinavia and Russia, plentifully in Poland, sparingly again in 

 Silesia, and — where the localities are suitable — in Northern Germany, Denmark, 

 Holland and Belgium ; but elsewhere it is chiefly known on migration, in the 

 course of which it occurs iu the .Canaries and Madeira, its winter-quarters 

 commencing in the basin of the Mediterranean and extending to Abyssinia. In 

 Asia it is found in Western Siberia south of lat. 60° as far as the valley of the 

 Ob, and through Turkestan to the Altai, ranging down to Ceylon in winter ; while 

 east of the Lena a larger form — distinguished by separatists as L. melanuroides — 

 inhabits Eastern Siberia and Kamschatka in summer, passing through Japan and 



* ' Manual of British Birds,' pp. 6U9, (ilO. 



