GODWITS. 369 



Gen. Limosa, Briss. 



Beak long and straight,, weak ; nasal furrow extends 

 along the whole bill ; nostrils basal pierced through ; 

 legs very long; wings and tail as last. The females 

 are always larger and handsomer than the males. 



190. LIMOSA MELANUEA, L. Svartstjertad Langnabba. The 



Black-tailed Godwit. D. F. 



The outer half of the tail black ; the base white at all 

 seasons ; a white spot on the wings ; beak straight ; the 

 claw of the middle toe long, dentate on the inner 

 edge; length about 16 in. ; beak from the gape 5 in. ; 

 tarsus 3 in. 2 1. ; naked part above knee 2 in. ; tail 

 3 in. 2 1. 



In the summer dress rusty red, especially on the breast, 

 with dark transverse spots all over the body, and black on 

 the hinder part of the back ; wings black ; a white stripe 

 over the eye ; belly white. In the winter the upper parts 

 are brown-grey, with paler edges ; throat white ; neck and 

 breast pale grey, with small spots. The young are like the 

 old in winter, but more rusty. 



Is met with throughout all Scandinavia, and breeds in 

 many places as far up as the North Cape. 



Eggs pyriform ; vary in colour from dark green to light 

 olive brown, faintly blotched with darker spots; not so 

 large as that of the whimbrel. 



191. L. KutfA, Briss. Eostrod Langnabba. The Bar- 



tailed Godwit. D. F. 



Tail at all seasons streaked with white and black- 

 brown bars ; beak in the old birds double as long as 

 the tarsus ; in the young birds one and a half times as 

 long ; middle claw short, not dentate ; no white spot on 

 the wing. 



Length 14 to 15 in. ; beak about 4 in. ; tail 3 in. 

 Resembles the last in colour, but in the summer the 

 rusty red colour underneath extends from the chin 

 down to the tail, and is much deeper and purer than 

 in the last. 



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