92 LIMOSA FEDOA. 



GENUS LI I LIMOSA, BRISSON. 



232. LIXOSA FEDOA, VIEILL SCOLOPAX FEDOA, WILSON. 



GREAT MARBLED CODWIT. 

 WILSON, PLATE LVI. FIG IV. FEMALE. 



THIS bird is a transient visitant of our sea coasts 

 in spring and autumn, to and from its breeding place 

 in the north. Our gunners call it the straight-billed 

 curlew, and sometimes the red curlew. It is a shy, 

 cautious, and watchful bird; yet so strongly are they 

 attached to each other, that, on wound ing one in a 

 flock, the rest are immediately arrested in their flight, 

 making so many circuits over the spot where it lies 

 fluttering and screaming, that the sportsman often 

 makes great destruction among them. Like the curlew, 

 they may also be enticed within shot, by imitating their 

 call or whistle ; but can seldom be approached without 

 some such manoeuvre. They are much less numerous 

 than the short-billed curlews, \\ ith whom, however, 

 they not unfrequently associate. They are found 

 among the salt marshes in May, and for some time in 

 June, and also on their return, in October and Novem- 

 ber ; at which last season they are usually fat, and in 

 high esteem for the table. 



The female of this bird has been described by 

 several writers as a distinct species from the male ; the 

 chief difference consists in the undulating bars of black 

 with which the breast of the male is marked, and 

 which are wanting in the female. 



The male of the great marbled godwit is nineteen 

 inches lon<r, and thirty-four inches in extent; the bill 

 is nearly six inchoin length, a little turned up towards 

 the extremity, where it is black, the base is of a pale 

 purplish nYsh colour ; chin and upper part of the throat, 

 whitish; head and neck, mottled with dusky brown 

 and black on a ferruginous ground; breast, barred with 

 wavy lines of black ; back and scapulars black ; marbled 



