254 



Distribution. Europe and Northern Asia in summer ; Africa, 

 Southern Asia, the Malay Archipelago, and Australia in winter. 

 This is a winter visitor to the sea-coasts of India, Ceylon, and 

 Burma, and is occasionally found inland. 



Habits, fyc. As a rule, though there are local exceptions, the 

 Whimbrel is a less common bird than the Curlew in India ; but 

 it has very similar habits. It is good to eat, better than the 

 Curlew. 



Genus LIMOSA, Brisson, 1760. 



The Godwits have a very long bill> straight or slightly recurved, 

 with the apex obtuse, both mandibles grooved at the side ; nostrils 

 linear, near the base of the bill. Wings long and pointed, 1st quill 

 longest ; tail of moderate length, even. Tarsus moderate, trans- 

 versely shielded in parts both before and behind ; hind toe well 

 developed, a web between the outer and middle toes, but 

 scarcely any between the middle and inner ; middle claw 

 dilated, curved outwards and often pectinate outside. Winter 

 plumage greyish brown ; breeding-plumage rufous in both sexes. 



The genus is almost cosmopolitan ; two species are Indian. 



Key to the Species. 



a. Basal half of tail white, terminal half mostly 



black, not barred * L. belgica, p. 254. 



b. Tail more or less barred L. lapponica, p. 25G. 



1456. Limosa belgica. The Black-tailed Godwit. 



Scolopax limosa, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 245 (1766). 

 Scolopax belgica, Gm. Syst. Nat. i,'p. 063 (1788). 

 Limosa melanura, Leisler, Nachtr. Bechst. Na^urg. pt. 2, p. 153 



(1813) ; Sefbohm, Charadr. p. 389. 

 Limosa aegocephala, apud Pallas, Zooqr. llosso-Asiat. ii, p. 178 ; Blyth, 



Cat. p. 268: Irby, Ibis, 1861, p. '240; Jei'don, B. I. iii, p. 081 ; 



Stoliczka, J. A. S. B. xli, pt. 2, p. 252; Hume, 8. F. i, p. 235 ; 



Adam, ibid. p. 396 ; Oates, 8. F. iii, p. 346 ; Blyth, Birds Burm. 



p. 155 ; Butler Sf Hume, S. F. iv, p. 16 ; Hume fy Dav. S. F. vi, 



p. 460 ; Wardl.-Rams. Ibis, 1877, p. 469 ; Cripps, S. F. vii, p. 302 ; 



Hume, ibid. p. 486; id. Cat. no. 875; Scnlh/, S. F. viii, p. 356; 



Swinh. $ Barnes, Ibis. 1885, p. 133 : Barnes, Birds Bom. p. 348; 



Hume, S. F. xi, p. 322 ; nee Sc. segocephala, L. 

 Limosa melanuroides, Gould, P. Z. S. 1846, p. 84 ; Blyth, Ibis, 1865, 



p. 35 ; Hume, 8. F. viii, p. 157 ; xi, p. 322. 

 Limosa limosa, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xxiv. p. 381. 



The Small Godwit, Jerdon ; Gudera, Gairiya, Jdngral, Khdy, II. ; 

 Malgujha, Nepal ; Jaurali, Beng. ; Tondu ulanka, Tel. 



Coloration in winter. Upper parts brown, head and neck 

 rather paler, a tendency to dark centres on the back and wings ; 



