SHORE BIRDS 219 



its northward spring migration ; this has led country-folk 

 to style it " Maybird," its loud trilling whistle then 

 frequently attracting attention. Length, i6in. to iSin.; 

 weight, from f Ib. to I Ib. 



THE BAR-TAILED GODWIT, Limosa rufa, is to be 

 met with in this country only whilst migrating to or 

 from its northern breeding quarters in spring and autumn. 

 Young birds begin to arrive in August, and then on- 

 ward through the autumn the species is fairly numerous 

 until hard weather commences, when the bulk of these 

 birds depart southward, returning about May on their 

 passage north. I have found these Godwit extremely 

 numerous at times on the Essex coast ; they are known 

 as " Preen " by the local gunners, and as they congregate 

 thickly on the mud-banks, an occasional heavy kill is 

 scored with the punt-gun upon these fowl. The bill of 

 the Bar-tailed Godwit has not a downward curve like 

 that of the Curlew, it is nearly straight with an upward 

 inclination and is close upon 4 in. long. In length this 

 bird ranges from 14 in. to 16 in., and in weight from 

 12 oz. to 14 oz. 



THE BLACK-TAILED GODWIT, Limosa <zgrocephala,\\\& 

 its congener last named, is known here only on migration. 

 Early in last century this bird bred in the Fen district, 

 but, like many another marsh-frequenting species, was 

 driven therefrom by the reclamation and cultivation of 

 its favourite haunts. The Black-tailed is larger than the 

 Bar-tailed Godwit, and it is a much less frequent visitor 

 to our coasts. Length, 16 in. or 17 in.; weight, Jib. 

 to I Ib. 



THE GREENSHANK, Tetanus canescens, is frequently 

 found on the salt marshes along the east coast of England 



