GODWITS GREBES GROUSE. 203 



GODWITS. 



There are seven sorts of godwits, including the small 

 redshank. In my previous editions I said eight. 



The " red godwit" was spoken of as a delicious and 

 scarce bird, and I observed that I had killed several of 

 them on the coast of Kent ; but always considered the 

 gray godwit as the best worth shooting. But here we 

 have all been in the dark again ! The red godwit is no 

 more nor less than the gray godwit in his summer jacket. 

 These birds, like huzzars, have a summer dress and a 

 winter dress, and have thus out-manoeuvred the logic 

 of our generals in zoology. There are many birds 

 which change their plumage in like manner, though 

 perhaps not so much as these. My remark, as to the 

 gray godwit being best, was an excusable error, because 

 all birds eat better in winter than in summer. There 

 is no great art required to kill godwits. In hard wea- 

 ther they are scattered on the shores, and in spring 

 they may be easily shot when flying about in the 

 marshes. 



GREBES. 



There are seven sorts, including the little river dob- 

 chick. 



These birds, in evading the flash of a gun, are even 

 quicker than the divers. 



The large grebes are worth shooting for the sake of 

 their skins, which make excellent tippets and travelling 

 caps. 



GROUSE. 



There are three kinds of grouse, exclusive of the 

 wood grouse, or capercaile, a Swedish bird, that is 



