118 NESTS AND EGGS OF 



marshes, usually in flocks of greater or less extent. The bird is held 

 in high esteem for the table, and they are eagerly hunted by the gun- 

 ners when flocks of ten or a dozen birds appear on the marshes. The 

 sportsmen call them " Dough " or " Doe " birds. The eggs are creamy- 

 buff" or light oliveaceous-drab spotted and blotched, rather sparsely, 

 with yellowish and umber-brown of varying shades, long oval ; size 

 about 2.27 by 1.60 ; three or four in number, and they are deposited in 

 a slight depression of the ground, lined with a few bits of grasses,. 

 The nests are placed in the vicinity of a pool or river, but not always 

 near the water's edge. 



250. Limosa iapponica baueri (Naum.) [544,] 



Pacific Godwit. 



Hab. Coasts of Eastern Asia and across to Alaska, south in winter to New Zealand and Australia; 

 casual to Lower California. 



In the winter months the Pacific Godwit is found in many of the 

 islands of the Pacific Ocean — the Polynesian Islands and Australia. 

 At this season it is also found on the Eastern and Southern coasts 

 of Asia and Japan. On the American coast it is a summer resident in 

 Alaska, and south of this point it is recorded only from Lower Califor- 

 nia. An abundant species at the mouth of the Yukon and on the 

 marshes of Pastolik, which are farther north. The nests are built in 

 tussocks of grass, lined with the same material. The eggs are said to 

 be only two in number, of light olive drab, spotted with irregularly 

 formed spots of umber of varying shades, similar to those of the 

 Marbled Godwit; size, 2.25x1.45. 



251. Limosa hsemastica (Linn.) [545-] 



Hudsoiiian Godtirit. 



Hab. Northern North America. Not recorded west of Rocky Mountains, only in Alaska. 



The Hudsonian Godwit, though not common anywhere in the 

 United States, is distributed throughout North America generally, but 

 has not been observed west of the Rocky Mountains. It passes the 

 winter South of the United States, and breeds in the most northern 

 sections of the country. Breeds abundantly on the Barren Lands of 

 the Arctic Ocean. In the Lower Anderson river region it nests in the 

 first part of June, depositing its eggs in a slight depression of the 

 ground lined with a few leaves and grasses. It associates with L. 

 fcsda^ and has the same habits and characteristics. Called by the 

 gunners the " Smaller Doe-bird." American Black-tailed Godwit and 

 Ring-tailed Marlin are its other names. 



The eggs of this species are heavily shaded olive-drab or "hair 

 brown" almost as dark as a Loon's ^^%^ sometimes lighter; obscurely 



