THE MARBLED GODWIT. 463 
The Buff-breasted Sandpiper, although not abundant on 
the shores of New England, is by no means rare, in the 
months of August and September, when it is returning 
from its northern breeding-places. It is seldom seen here 
in spring; but it seems to pass over New England in its 
northern flight. Of its breeding habits, nest, eggs, &c., 
we are ignorant. Audubon was of the opinion that it breeds 
about the arctic seas, as he had seen a wing of this bird 
that came from there ; but he knew nothing of its breeding 
habits whatever. 
In the autumn, while with us, it does not frequent the 
beach as much as it does the marshes and flats in its vicin- 
ity, where it is known as one of the “ Grass-birds ” to our 
gunners. It feeds upon grasshoppers and other insects, 
and becomes very fat; so much so, that skinning it for 
cabinet preservation, at that season, is almost an impos- 
sibility. 
Section LIMOSER. 
Bill longer than the tarsus, curving slightly upwards towards the end, where it is 
thickened; both mandibles grooved for nearly the whole length; gape of mouth 
very short, not extending beyond the base of culmen. ; 
LIMOSA, Brisson. 
Limosa, Brisson, Orn. (1760). (Type Scolopax limosa, L.) 
Bill lengthened, exceeding the tarsus, slender, and curving gently upwards, 
grooved to near the tip; the tip not attenuated, but pointed; the lower almost as 
long as the upper; culmen without any furrow; tarsus with transverse scutelle 
before and behind, reticulated laterally; a short basal membrane between the middle 
and outer toes; tail short, even. 
LIMOSA FEDOA.—(Linn.) Ord. 
The Marbled Godwit. 
Scolopax fedoa, Wilson. Am. Orn., VII. (1813) 30. 
Limosa fedoa, Nuttall. Man., II. (1884) 1738. Aud. Orn. Biog., III. (1885) 287; 
V. 590. 
