BAR-TAILED GODWIT. 259 



In their spring migration these birds are not entirely 

 confined to the vicinity of the sea-coast, as, on the 10th 

 of May, 1858, two males and two females were observed 

 by the Rev. T. J. Blofeld on a drained marsh at 

 Hoveton, and one pair remained long enough for him 

 to examine them carefully with a glass, the female 

 approaching within shot. A pair were also seen by 

 him, on the same marsh, on the 9th of May, 1861, which 

 seemed so tame, being unmolested, that he began to 

 hope they might remain to breed, but after the third 

 day they disappeared altogether. I may here also add 

 that, differing from almost all our migratory waders, 

 I have never known stragglers of this species killed 

 during the months of June and July ; but their reappear- 

 ance early in autumn is a matter of common observation. 



Messrs. Sheppard and Whitear have recorded one, 

 killed in the beginning of August, as still retaining the 

 full summer plumage, and I have seen similar specimens 

 about the same date. On the 13th of September, 1865, 

 I saw four or five couples in the Norwich market, of 

 which one had scarcely commenced its autumnal change, 

 and the rest retained much of their summer garb ; 

 which agrees with Mr. Do well's experience at Blakeney, 

 who says that in August, September, and October, small 

 flocks are found frequenting the Blakeney harbour, and 

 are for the most part very tame, feeding up to within a 

 few yards of one's feet when quietly watching them. 

 Some of these in September were still slightly red- 

 breasted, but a bird shot on the 5th of October had 

 completed its winter grey. 



During the winter months a few pairs still linger 

 about our shores, and are met with even during the 

 sharpest weather. In January, 1847, Mr. Do well had 

 several brought to him in winter plumage by a Blakeney 

 gunner, and has seen stragglers himself in Blakeney 

 harbour, during the same month. From my own notes 

 2L2 



