570 SCOLOPACID.E. 



is a regular autumnal visitant. Small flocks are occasionally 

 seen in spring, and in the beginning of summer, in Cornwall 

 and in Devonshire, as noticed by Mr. Couch, Dr. Edward 

 Moore, and Mr. Bellamy, and a few are seen in winter. In 

 Romney Marsh, on the Kentish coast, Mr. Plomley says the 

 same occurrences take place. The authors of the catalogue 

 of the Norfolk and Suffolk Birds, say, " We have examined 

 specimens of this bird killed in Norfolk in various states of 

 plumage. Those met with in autumn have been in the dress 

 of the Common Godwit of English authors ; but when the 

 individual was killed early in the spring, it was in a state of 

 change between that bird and the Red-breasted Snipe of 

 Montagu. Before it leaves this country to breed, it has 

 assumed the full plumage of that bird ; and we have noticed 

 it in the same state on its return in the beginning of August." 



Some years since many beautiful examples of this species, 

 in various states of plumage, were brought from Yarmouth 

 to London by Mr. Harvey, for sale, from one of which the 

 figure of the bird, in perfect summer plumage as here repre- 

 sented, was taken. Mr. Selby includes this species among 

 his Birds of Durham and Northumberland, and Mr. Hey- 

 sham has recorded one that was shot on the west coast near 

 Bowness in October, but considers it a rare bird. 



The Bar-tailed Godwit appears to take a more eastern 

 course in its migration than its generic companion, and does 

 not range so far either southward or northward. I have 

 never seen an example from any part of North Africa. M. 

 Savi, and other authorities, consider it a very rare bird in 

 Italy. It is only seen on its passage in Switzerland and 

 France. A few are said to breed in the flat marshy parts 

 of Germany, and M. Temminck says that it has bred in 

 Holland. It visits Finland and the countries to the east- 

 Avard, but is very seldom seen on the islands, or on the west- 

 ern shores of the Baltic ; nor in Gottland, nor on the I^anish 

 islands west of the Sound. 



