BLACK-TAILED GODWIT. 641 



siderable flocks on the Tees " slems." At Spurn it was 

 abundant in the winter of 1890-91, and also in January and 

 February 1897. 



On the return passage in spring it appears at Spurn about 

 the middle of May, but only as an occasional visitor, and 

 not with the regularity of many other species. In the Tees 

 area I have noticed small flocks going northward on the 

 6th of May, and from that date up to the first half of June. 

 On the main portion of the coast, between Saltburn and 

 the Humber, the Bar-tailed Godwit occurs only as a migrant 

 on passage, and has also been observed on several occasions 

 in inland localities. It is stated, on the authority of Hugh 

 Reid, to have been a migratory visitant to the Doncaster 

 Carrs ; it is mentioned in Fothergill's list in Whitaker's 

 " Richmondshire " (1823), and in Allis's Report ; one in 

 red plumage was obtained at Littlethorpe about 1850 ; in 

 Wensleydale three were killed from a flock on Scarrow Fell 

 moor in 1872 ; two were reported at Bagby, near Thirsk, 

 and one in Ribblesdale in August 1892. 



The weights of three birds procured in autumn at Redcar 

 were twelve, ten, and eight ounces respectively. 



The local names are not many : Godwin, or Goodwin, 

 is used by Redcar fishermen ; Set Hammer is a term applied 

 to it by the Teesmouth fowlers ; and Curlew- Whelp is stated 

 to be its name on the Humber foreshores. 



BLACK-TAILED GODWIT. 

 Limosa aegocephala (L.). 



Bird of passage, of rare occurrence. Formerly nested in the 

 county. 



The earliest known reference to this, as a county bird, is 

 probably that in Thomas Allis's Report on the Birds of 

 Yorkshire, written in 1844, thus : 



