NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 119 



spotted and blotclied with dark brown ; usually four in number ; size 



2.20X 1.42. 



[252.] Limosa limosa (Linn.) [546.] 



ISIack-tailed God-wit. 



Hab. Northern portion of the Old World; accidental !n Greenland. 



At dififerent seasons of the year the Black-tailed Godwit has been 

 observed in nearly every portion of Europe, Asia and Africa. It is 

 only an occasional visitant of Greenland which gives it a place in the 

 fauna of North America. Considerd migratory in Great Britain, and 

 a few are known to breed there in the various marshes. In the sum- 

 mer months, however, this Godwit is found in various parts of Den- 

 mark and throughout Scandinavia, especially in Finland and up into 

 Lapland. 



Known to nest in France, and is supposed to breed sparingly in 

 Switzerland. In Scotland and other portions of the British Islands this 

 species deposits its eggs early in May. This bird is known as Com- 

 mon Godwit, Godwyn, Yarwhelp, or Yarwhit, Jadreka Snipe, and 

 Shrieker. The nesting is like that of all the Waders so far as known 

 — simply a hollow in wet meadows or in dry parts of swamps, midst 

 grass or weeds. The eggs are usually four in number ; they are of a 

 deep grayish-olive or even a deep green, faintly spotted with olive- 

 brown of different shades. Size 2.17 xi.50. 



[253.] Totanus nebularius (Gunn). [547.] 



Hab. Old World; accidentalin Florida. 



Audubon took three specimens of the Green-shank on Sand Key, 

 Florida, near Cape Sable, May 28, 1832. This is the only record of its 

 appearance in North America. An abundant bird in the British Islands, 

 many remain to breed, especially in Scotland, and on the islands about 

 the coast. Breeds in Norway and Sweden, in Finland and in Lap- 

 land as far north as the Arctic Circle. The nest is often placed some 

 distance from water, usually in a tuft of grass with a slight lining. 

 The eggs are four in number and vary from yellowish to brownish-buff, 

 sprinkled and spotted all over, with irregular spots of dark brown, vary- 

 ing in intensity of shade. The eggs are generally pear-shaped. The 

 average size of ten specimens is 1.98x1.40. 



254. Totanus melanoleucus (Gmel.) [548.] 



Greater Yello-w-legs. 



Hab. Nearly all of North America; breeding in the more northern portions. 



The Greater Yellow-legs, or Tell-tale, is found in North America 

 at large. It is said to breed in the large marshes of Wisconsin, in 

 Iowa, and in Northern Illinois ; doubtless a few breed in suitable places 



