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396. Black-tailed Godwit. Limosa limosa (Linnseus). 



Limosa oegocephala. Shelley, p. 245. 



Abundant on the shores of lakes and in flooded portions of 

 the country from October to March. 



Length about 17 inches. In winter plumage the upper parts 

 are ashy brown, lower back and rump blackish brown. Wings 

 dark brownish, the greater coverts broadly tipped with white, 

 forming a wing bar; white on shafts and inner webs of pri- 

 maries. Tail white at base, with a broad black terminal band. 

 Under parts white ; sides of face and neck and sides of throat 

 and breast washed with brown. Bill about 5 inches. Tarsus 

 about 4 inches. 



In summer plumage the upper parts are mottled with black 

 and rufous. Sides of face, entire neck, throat and breast rufous, 

 barred with dusky black. 



Females are similar to males in colouration, but the rufous 

 is not so deep in colour in the summer plumage and they are 

 larger in size. 



397. Curlew. Numenius arquata (Linnaeus). 



Numenius arquata. Shelley, p. 243. 



Not uncommon during the winter months in suitable 

 localities. 



Length about 21 inches. Upper parts pale brown with lon- 

 gitudinal black centres to the feathers ; wing coverts brown, 

 edged with paler brown ; primaries blackish, notched with white 

 on inner webs. Crown of head like the back, only more narrowly 

 striped with black ; under parts white streaked with dark 

 brown on the chest. On the sides of the body are a number 

 of blackish arrowhead shaped spots. Bill fleshy brown, blackish 

 towards tip. Legs and feet dark brown. 



In summer plumage the black markings are more distinct. 



Bill long and strongly decurved. Sexes similar, but females 

 are larger than are males. 



398. Slender-billed Curlew. Numenius tenuirostris Vieillot. 



Numenius tenuirostris. Shelley, p. 245. 



Apparently uncommon from autumn to spring, though more 

 information on the occurrence of • this curlew in Egypt is 

 needed. 



