462 THE BIEDS OF HELIGOLAND 



the opinion that the beautiful examples, described by Naumann as 

 obtained from ' the North Sea/ may also have come from Heligo- 

 land in a similar manner. 



The breeding range of the Whimbrel extends from Spain 

 through the countries of Europe bordering the Mediterranean ; how 

 far it advances eastwards into Asia has not been determined. As 

 already stated, Jerdon mentions it as having been seen in India ; 

 but Sewertzoff does not quote it among the birds of Turkestan. 



Oodwit Limosa. This genus contains but a small number of 

 species : three of these are natives of Europe and Asia, two of them 

 visiting Heligoland; the third, L. cinerea, although nesting abun- 

 dantly in the north of European Russia, has not yet been observed 

 here. Besides the above, Asia possesses a few species closely re- 

 lated to the European forms ; America, on the other hand, has two 

 independent species, confined exclusively to that continent ; and, 

 according to Jerdon, Australia also possesses several species of 

 its own. 



263. Black-tailed Godwit [SCHWARZSCHWANZIGE 

 UFERSCHNEPFE]. 



LIMOSA MELANURA, Leisler. 1 



Heligolandish : Groot Marling. Marling being Heligolandish name for Godwit. 



Limosa melanura. Nauniann, viii. 406. 



Black-tailed Godwit. Dresser, viii. 211. 



Barge a ruque noire. Temminck, Manuel, ii. 664, iv. 421. 



This species is of extraordinarily rare occurrence on this island. 

 During all the time I have been collecting, only three of these birds 

 have been shot here, all being individuals in breeding plumage. 

 No doubt the birds may migrate frequently across the island ; but 

 the cliff does not form a suitable habitat for birds of similar 

 habits, and Sandy Island is now of too insignificant extent to attract 

 the larger kinds of shore-birds. 



This bird occurs as breeding species in Holland, Denmark, 

 southern Scandinavia, Germany, and Russia, and throughout Asia 

 as far as the region of the Amoor. 



1 Limosa belgica (GmeL). 



