100 GRALLATORES. LIMOSA. GODWIT. 



dris), Knots (Tringa canutus), &c. Their flight is power- 

 ful, though not very rapid ; and when disturbed and raised on 

 the wing, they generally send forth a cry, not unlike the 

 bleat of the goat. Their flesh is juicy, and of excellent 

 flavour, and on this account they are in great request for 

 the table. In April, the males have acquired the nuptial 

 plumage, after which period they entirely desert our shores, 

 retiring to more northern countries, such as Iceland, Lapland, 

 Sweden, Sec. to breed. 



PLATE 22. Fig. 1. Represents the male bird in the sum- 

 mer plumage, and of the natural size. 



descrip- Crown of the head, nape and back part of the neck, pale 



^|* e reddish orange-brown, streaked with blackish-brown ; 



Summer chin and eye-streak reddish-white. Fore part of the 



neck, breast, and all the under parts pale reddish- 

 brown ; the feathers of the belly and abdomen finely 

 margined with white ; the flanks and under tail-coverts 

 being streaked with dark hair-brown. Upper part of 

 the back and scapulars blackish-brown, with oval spots 

 and margins of pale orange. Lower part of the back 

 and upper tail -coverts white, with the central parts of 

 the feathers dark hair-brown ; some few of the latter 

 being margined with orange-brown. Wing coverts ash- 

 grey, with darker centres, and edged with white. The 

 quills have their outer webs black, the inner ones hair- 

 brown, mottled with white on the outer edge, with white 

 shafts. The tail marked with alternate bars of hair- 

 brown and reddish-white. Bill flesh-red at the base ; 

 with the fore-part blackish-brown, and frequently reach- 

 ing to seven inches in length. Legs having the tibiae 

 much shorter than those of Limosa melanura ; and of 

 a blackish-grey colour. 



Male. Fig. 2. Represents the winter plumage of the same species ; 



Plumage. * n wn i cn state tne crown of the head, the space between 



the bill and eyes, the neck and breast are greyish- white, 



