642 THE BIRDS OF YORKSHIRE. 



Limosa melanura. Black-tailed Godwit According to F. O. 

 Morris, breeds on the edge of Hatfield Moor. 



The Black-tailed Godwit was formerly classed as resident 

 in Yorkshire, and, according to the late Hugh Reid of Don- 

 caster used, within his recollection, to nest on Hatfield Moor, 

 in which locality he once found the young birds himself 

 (cf. A. G. More, Ibis. 1865), and, doubtless, it also bred in 

 the Carrs of the East Rfding. The advance of civilization, 

 with its accompaniments of drainage, high farming, and the 

 increase of population have long ago driven it from these 

 haunts, and it is now known only as a bird of passage, but, 

 unlike the preceding species, never in large numbers ; indeed, 

 it may be considered as a rare bird. 



It has occurred more frequently at Spurn of late years 

 than elsewhere, usually in August or September, singly or 

 in small parties, and very rarely in winter, though one was 

 killed there as late as Qth December in 1875. In Cleveland 

 it was, early in the last century, not uncommon at the Tees- 

 mouth, whence an old bird-stuffer of my acquaintance, who 

 died in 1880, aged 75, used often to have specimens sent. My 

 own experience of the bird is very limited ; I saw one on 

 30th August 1883, which allowed an approach within easy 

 gunshot ; another in my collection was obtained near Redcar 

 Pier in September 1892 ; and I have seen three or four others, 

 all in immature plumage, killed in the district. 



On the passage northward in spring it is of extremely 

 rare occurrence. 



This species has been reported from inland localities 

 more frequently than its congener ; one in summer plumage, 

 which I have seen in the collection of Mr. Forster of Bridling- 

 ton, was procured at Littlethorpe in 1850 ; another example, 

 also in breeding plumage, was in the late C. C. Oxley's collection 

 at Redcar ; while it has also been noticed at Beverley, Goole, 

 Wakefield, Ackworth, and Arthington. 



