566 SCOLOPACID-'E. 



Its flight in the breeding season resembles that of the 

 Redshank, like which bird it at that time flies round any 

 intruder in the marsh, but in more distant circles and much 

 higher in the air. It is called provincially " Shrieker," but 

 its note, though loud, is far from inharmonious. It becomes 

 more scarce in the breeding season every year. Mr. Hewit- 

 son says the Black-tailed Godwits commence laying their eggs 

 early in May. The nest is composed of dry grass and other 

 vegetables, and is concealed amongst the coarse herbage of 

 the swamps and low meadows. Mr. Hoy mentions, that when 

 disturbed, they are clamorous, flying round and vociferating 

 the cry o^ gridto, grutto, gr^itto, by which name the bird is 

 known among the country people in Holland. The eggs are 

 four in number, of a light olive brown, blotched and spotted 

 with darker brown, the length two inches two lines by one 

 inch six lines in breadth, and rather pear-shaped. The food 

 of these birds consists of insects and their larvae, worms, and 

 almost any other soft bodied animals. 



The Black-tailed Godwit is only seen in Ireland occa- 

 sionally in autumn, as I learn from my friend, Mr. W. 

 Thompson. It has been obtained in Devonshire ; I have 

 heard of its having been killed at Cardington in Bedfordshire ; 

 and Mr. Bond, who has very kindly furnislied me with a 

 list of birds obtained or seen in the vicinity of Kingsbury 

 Reservoir, a large piece of water but a few miles north of 

 London, includes three instances of this species appearing 

 there in spring. Living specimens brought from Holland 

 are frequently to be bought in the London markets, and arc 

 amusing pets when kept within a walled garden. This species 

 occurs occasionally in Cambridgeshire, and, as before stated, 

 in Suffolk and Norfolk. Mr. Selby has noticed their ap- 

 pearance in Northumberland, and Mr. Heysham has recorded 

 two occurrences, both during autumn, in the vicinity of the 

 Solway Frith. This bird is found during summer in Den- 



