BIRDS OF THE STREAMS 79 



black, the feathers being edged with grey. Rump and 

 tail-feathers white, the latter barred and mottled with 

 brown ; under parts white, streaked and spotted with 

 ash-brown. Bill blackish and slightly curved upwards. 

 Legs and feet olive-green. Length 14 in. Female similar. 

 In winter, greyer above and pure white below. Young : 

 tinged with rusty above ; chest and flanks clouded with 

 blackish grey Legs greenish grey. Nestling : light grey 

 above, mottled with black ; black stripe from bill to eye, 

 and black marking on crown of head ; dingy white below. 



Language. — Rather like the Redshank's note, being a 

 loud clear " chee-weet," three or four times repeated. 



Habits. — Generally much like the Redshank. 



Food. — Worms, beetles, Crustacea, and mollusca ; 

 also fish-fry, tadpoles and small frogs. 



Nest. — May. One brood. 



Site. In a slight depression in the ground, more 

 or less concealed by growing herbage, and generally 

 near water. 



Materials. — A few grcLSses or leaves. 



Eggs. — Four. Stone-colour, spotted with brown, and 

 blotched with purplish grey ; very pyriform shape. 



BLACK-TAILED GODWIT [Limosa helgica). 



Once a breeding species, now extinct as such, and 

 visiting our East Coast chiefly on autumn and spring 

 migrations. 



Haunts. — Marsh- and fen-districts. 



Observation. — Distinguish from Bar-tailed Godwit by 

 straighter bill and white rump. 



Plumage. — Head, neck, and breast rufous, with dark 

 shaft-stripes on crown, and blackish bars on breast ; 



