170 THE BIRDS OF MAINE 



It is a true beach bird and frequents sandy wave washed shores, 

 often associated in flocks with the Semipalmated and Least 

 Sandpipers. In the vicinity of Hudson Bay they are reported 

 as nesting in June, laying four light olive brown eggs which 

 are spotted with darkish brown. The nest is a mere grass- 

 lined hollow in the earth. An egg is said to measure 1.41 x 

 0.91 (Ridgw.). The food and habits do not vary from those 

 of the Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers in general. 



Genus LIMOSA Brisson. 



249. Limosa fedoa (Linn.). Marbled Godwit; Brown 

 Marlin; Doe Bird. 



Plumage of adults : above dusky or blackish with buffy streaks on head 

 and neck and the feathers of back tipped or barred with same ; the inner 

 web of outer primaries and both webs of the inner ones pale buff with black 

 dots; tail distinctly barred with black ; throat whitish ; elsewhere below pale 

 buff with dusky bars on breast, sides and flanks ; bill dark at end, yellowish 

 at base and curved slightly upward. Immature plumage : differs in being 

 scantily barred below except on flanks and tail coverts. Wing 8.50 to 8.95 ; 

 culmen 3.75 to 5.00 ; tarsus 2.85. 



Geog. Dist. — North America, breeding in the interior from Iowa and 

 Nebraska to Manitoba and the Saskatchewan ; in winter south to Guatemala, 

 Yucatan and Cuba. 



County Records. — Cumberland ; one taken at Pine Point, about August 8, 

 1891, by Harry Crocker, (Brown, Auk 17, p. 386); one taken at Scarboro Marsh, 

 May, 1884, (Brown, Auk 2, p. 385); a female in my collection was shot at 

 Scarboro Beach, August 16, 1904, by Geo. H. Cushman, (Brock, Auk 1907, p. 

 94). Sagadahoc ; one taken at Popham Beach, September 13, 1900, (Spinney), 



This species has been four times taken in Maine, being only 

 of casual occurence. Colonel Goss records this species as inhab- 

 iting the salt and fresh marshes and moist grounds of the 

 prairies, feeding upon Crustacea, insects, worms, larvae, etc. Its 

 flight, he says, is easy but not rapid and in alighting it raises its 

 wings over its back as it touches the ground. 



The eggs are four in number, creamy buff, spotted sparingly 

 with brown and umber, and measure 2.27 x 1.60 (Davie). 

 The nest is on the ground, being a mere grass lined hollow. 



