Mr. E. A. S. Elliot on the Godiuits. 565 



seven, sometimes in greater numbers, with increasing aug- 

 mentation till about the beginning of November, when 

 it is not unusual to find a flock of a hundred or more. 

 As the cold weather approaches these birds leave us, but 

 either a few remain behind, or others take their place in 

 severe weather from the north-cast coasts of England, where 

 the species is abundant all through the winter; for 1 liave 

 obtained specimens during all the winter months, but in 

 small numbers, and never at this season (mid-winter) could 

 the species be said to exist in flocks. 



As spring advances and April is ushered in, small straggling 

 flocks of winter-plumaged birds, with rarely a red-coloured 

 bird amongst them, may be found on their favourite feeding- 

 grounds (the Godwits in our estuary have a partiality for 

 one particular mudbank). The climatic conditions, how- 

 ever, must be favourable for their appearance : it must be 

 stormy, with N.W. winds ; for these birds seem to be a con- 

 tingent from the flocks observed passing up the west coast 

 of Ireland at this time, so that for many years in succession 

 it happens we do not see a Godwit at all at this season, the 

 elements not being propitious, and because we are out of the 

 regular line of their spring migration. They seem to follow 

 the east and west lines of our coast unless driven east or 

 west by the prevailing wind. 



When the month of May approaches, every legitimate 

 prayer of the ardent observer is oft'ercd for an easterly wind, 

 and strong of that; for if we get it continuously for the first 

 week or ten days we may be sure of a visit of birds in 

 splendid plumage. It is thus seen that a wind from an abso- 

 lutely opposite quarter is required to bring in the May birds 

 to what is required for the April ones. Sometimes when 

 the wind has held in the east for several weeks, as it did in 

 May 1876, the number of Godwits gathered in the estuary 

 is past computation. In this memorable year only one 

 person followed the birds, and at one shot with an ordinary 

 shoulder-gun he killed twenty, so it can be imagined how 

 thickly the flock crowded together. To show how rarely we 

 get such a flight it must be mentioned that it was not until 



