Mr. E. A. S. Elliot on the Gudivits. 571 



legs are longer and stouter iu proportion ; the space above the 

 tarsal joint is greater also. Tlie Marbled Godwit or Marlin 

 is a widely distributed species in North America, breeding 

 in the interior on the prairies, not necessarily near water, 

 from Iowa and Nebraska, northward to Manitoba and the 

 Saskatchewan, whilst it migrates in winter as far south as 

 Central America. It is well-known as the " bay-bird •'■' among 

 the ^longshore-men, and is conspicuous by its large size and 

 its bay colour, especially on the axillaries. It is, in fact, the 

 largest shore-bird excepting the Long-billed Curlew found 

 on the mudbanks and sandy spits. In Colorado, where 

 numbers pass through on their spring migration, they may 

 be looked for just about the same time as we see the Bar- 

 tailed here, namely, the first or second week in May. 



Coming to the Black-tailed Godwits, we find species with 

 well-marked distinctions in the Old and New World. They 

 differ from the bar-tailed species in not being so eminently 

 gregarious and not being so strictly marine in their habits ; 

 they prefer the soft edges of the marshes and meadow^s, 

 though oftentimes on migration the two species are found in 

 company on the mudbanks. 



Less than a century ago the Black-tailed Godwit, L. helgica, 

 was a common breeding species in the fens of our south and 

 south-eastern counties, but the incessant persecution to which 

 they were subjected to on account of the delicacy of their 

 flesh, and the gradual reclamation of the fens, has driven them 

 from their breeding-haunts in England, and we see them now 

 only on migration. In South-east Iceland, where the bird is 

 known by the name of '^ Jadrakan," or Earth-raker, it breeds 

 plentifully, also in the north of Holland and Poland, as well 

 as other suitable places in subarctic Europe and Siberia. 

 East of the Lena we find a smaller species, w hich has been 

 separated as L. melanuroides ; but as there is complete inter- 

 gradation in the way of size between this and L. belgica, its 

 specific validity is doubtful. This intergradation exists also 

 between L. rufa and L. uropygialis in the amount of bars 

 and streaks on the rump ; and it seems to me a pity to assig4i 

 specific rank in any case where such complete intergrading 



