186 HISTORY OF THE 



GEXUS LIMOSA BRISSON. 



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

 grooved to near the tip, the tip not attenuated; tarsus with transverse scutellse 

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

 middle and outer toes; tail short, even; bill much longer than head, nearly 

 equaling tarsi and toes together, curving gently upwards from the base, where 

 is is elevated and compressed, depressed, however, at the end. The grooves on 

 sides of bill and beneath extend nearly to the tip; the tip or upper mandible is 

 thickened and extends a little beyond the lower; the gap is slight, not extend- 

 ing beyond the base of the culmeu; the feathers on the sides of the bill reach 

 forward to about the same point, those on the chin a little farther; tarsus more 

 than one and one-half times the toes, twice the bare part of the tibia; hind toe 

 rather lengthened; outer toe webbed as far as end of first joint, inner toe with 

 only a short basal web; tail short, even, two-fifths the wings. 



"In some respects, the bill of this genus resembles that of Macrorhamphus, 

 the chief apparent difference being the upward curve of the one and its straigh- 

 ness in the other." 



Limosa fedoa (LINN.). 



MARBLE GODWIT. 

 PLATE XI. 



Migratory; common. Arrive early in April, a few remain- 

 ing until the last of May; return early in August, and occasion- 

 ally linger until late in the fall. 



B. 547. R. 545. C. 628. G. 252, 85. U. 249. 



HABITAT. North America in general, breeding from Iowa, 

 Dakota, etc., to Alaska; south in winter to Guatemala and Cuba. 



SP. CHAR. "Bill long, curved upwards; both mandibles grooved; wings 

 long; tail short; legs long; tibia with its lower half naked; toes rather short, 

 margined, and flattened underneath; the outer and middle toes united by a rather 

 large membrane. Entire upper parts variegated with brownish black and pale 

 reddish, the former disposed in irregular and confluent bands, and the latter in 

 spots and imperfect bands; in many specimens the black color predominating 

 on the back, and the pale red on the rump and upper tail coverts. Under parts 

 pale rufous, with transverse lines of brownish black on the breast and sides; 

 under wing coverts and axillaries darker rufous; outer webs of primaries dark 

 brown, inner webs light rufous; secondaries light rufous; tail light rufous, with 

 transverse bars of brownish black. Bill dull flesh color in its basal half, the 

 rest blackish brown; iris brown; feet bluish gray." 



Stretch of 

 Length. wing. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Bill. 



Male 17.50 31.50 9.00 3.30 2.90 4.00 



Female... 18.50 33.00 9.50 3.55 3.00 4.50 



This species associates in flocks, and inhabits the salt and 

 fresh water shores, marshes and moist grounds upon the prairies. 



