THE MARBLED GODWIT. 463 



The Buff-breasted Sandpiper, although not abundant on 

 the shores of New England, is by no means rare, in the 

 months of August and September, when it is returning 

 from its northern breeding-places. It is seldom seen here 

 in spring ; but it seems to pass over New England in its 

 northern flight. .Of its breeding habits, nest, eggs, &c., 

 we are ignorant. Audubon was of the opinion that it breeds 

 about the arctic seas, as he had seen a wing of this bird 

 that came from there ; but he knew nothing of its breeding 

 habits whatever. 



In the autumn, while with us, it does not frequent the 

 beach as much as it does the marshes and flats in its vicin- 

 ity, where it is known as one of the " Grass-birds " to our 

 gunners. It feeds upon grasshoppers and other insects, 

 and becomes very fat ; so much so, that skinning it for 

 cabinet preservation, at that season, is almost an impos- 

 sibility. 



Section LIMOSE^E. 



Bill longer than the tarsus, curving slightly upwards towards the end, where it is 

 thickened ; both mandibles grooved for nearly the whole length ; gape of mouth 

 very short, not extending beyond the base of culmen. 



LIMOSA, BRISSON. 



Limosa, BRISSON, Orn. (1760). (Type Scolopax limosa, L.) 



Bill lengthened, exceeding the tarsus, slender, and curving gently upwards; 

 grooved to near the tip; the tip not attenuated, but pointed; the lower almost as 

 long as the upper; culmen without any furrow; tarsus with transverse scutellae 

 before and behind, reticulated laterally; a short basal membrane between the middle 

 and outer toes ; tail short, even. 



LIMOSA FEDOA. (Linn.) Ord. 



The Marbled Godwit. . 



Scolopax fedoa, Wilson. Am. Orn., VII. (1813) 30. 



Limosa fedoa, Nuttall. Man., II. (1834) 173. Aud. Orn. Biog., III. (1835) 287; 

 V. 590. 



