428 
Spotted 
Godwait., 
A JOURNEY TO THE 
they retire to the marfhes. They fly in fuch 
large flocks, and fo clofe to each other, that I 
have often killed upwards of twelve at one fhot; 
and Mr. Atkinfon, long refident at York Fort, 
actually killed feventy-two at one fhot; but that 
was when the birds were fitting. Near Church- 
ill River they are feldom fat, though tolerably 
flefhy, and are generally good eating. They ufu- 
ally weigh from ten to thirteen ounces; the — 
female is always larger than the male, and differs 
in colour, being of a much lighter brown. They 
retire to the South long before the froft commen- 
ces; yet I have feen this bird as far North as the 
latitude 71° 50’. 
SportepD GopwaitT, known in Hudfon’s Bay 
by the name of Yellow Legs. This bird alfo vi- 
fits that country in confiderable numbers, but 
more fo in the interior parts; and ufually fre- 
quents the flat muddy banks of rivers. In fum-. 
mer it is generally very poor, but late in the Fall 
is, as it may be called, one lump of fat. This bird, 
with many others of the migratory tribe, I faw 
in confiderable numbers as far North as the lati- 
tude 71° 54’; and at York Fort I have known 
them fhot fo late as the latter end of October : 
at which time they are in the egreateft perfection, 
and moft delicious eating, more particularly fo 
when put into a bit of pafte, and boiled like an 
apple-dumpling; for in fact they are generally toa 
fat at that feafon to be eaten either roafted or 
boiled. 
HEBRIDAL 
