of the United States. 327 



Female larger ; colors somewhat duller. Young hardly 

 differing from the adult in winter plumage. Moult twice in 

 the year, changing greatly their plumage, the female later 

 than the male, hence said to differ. Larger than the allied 

 genera, except Numenius. 



Timid, melancholy, shy, suspicious, watchful. Migrate 

 according to season. Live in flocks, keeping constantly in 

 moist grounds, morasses near water, preferring salt marshes, 

 rarely found far from the sea ; affecting muddy places above 

 all things. Chiefly nocturnal, hiding and keeping quiet 

 during day-time among grasses, reeds, and going out in the 

 morning and evening only. Feeding at twilight and by 

 moonshine on insects, he. which they seek in the softest mud: 

 thrust their bill into it continually in search of small ani- 

 mals and vegetables. Sight weak and short, supplied by 

 their exquisitely sensible bill, which being furnished with 

 nerves to the tip, is capable of tasting whatever it seizes. 

 Like the gallinaceous birds, assist digestion by taking sand and 

 small stones into their gizzard for trituration. Breed socially 

 in damp meadows ; lay on the ground among grass, bushes. 

 Voice hoarse, shrill, compared to that of a goat. Escaping 

 rapidly among reeds and swampy grounds when perceived. 



Spread all over the cold and temperate regions of the globe. 

 Formed of but three well established species, two of which 

 are found in Europe, and two also in the United States. 

 More closely allied to Totanus by its European subgenus 

 Glottis, Nob. 



265. Limosa ^gocephala, Nob. Bill straightish ; rump and 

 tail black ; base of the quills and tail feathers white ; middle 

 nail long, serrated. 



Summer plumage, black varied with rufous; beneath ru- 

 fous, varied with blackish : winter, ashy-brown, beneath white- 

 ish ; tail tipped with white. 



Black-tailed Godwit, Limosa atgocephala, Nob. Am. Orn. 



