88 BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



GENUS LIMOSA BRISSON. 

 Limosa fedoa (LINN.). 



Marbled Godwit. 



DESCRIPTION. 



" Bill lengthened, * * * slender, and curving gently upwards ; grooved to near 

 tip ; the tip not attenuated, but pointed ; the lower almost as long as the upper. Cul- 

 men without any furrow. * * * A short basal membrane between the middle 

 and outer toes ; hind toe lengthened ; tail short, even. 



" 8p. ch. Bill long, curved upwards ; both mandibles grooved ; wings long * * * 

 legs long ; tibia with its lower half naked ; toes rather short. * . * * Entire upper 

 parts variegated with brownish-black and pale reddish, the former disposed in ir- 

 regular 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 breasts and sides ; under wing-coverts and axillars darker rufous * * * 

 tail, light rufous, with transverse bars of brownish-black. Bill pale yellowish, red 

 at base ; brownish-black at end ; legs ashy black. Length about 18 inches ; bill 4 to 

 5; tarsus 3. "-B. B. of N. A. 



Habitat. North America ; breeding in the interior (Missouri region and north- 

 ward), migrating in winter southward to Central America and Cuba. 



The Marbled Godwit, or Marliii, is a rare and irregular spring- and 

 fall migrant in Pennsylvania. Mr. George B. Sennett informs me 

 stragglers are occasionally taken in Crawford and Erie counties. A few 

 specimens have also been captured in recent years in Lancaster, Phila- 

 delphia and Delaware counties. 



NOTE. The Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa hcemastica Linn.) is said to 

 have been captured many years ago near Philadelphia by the late John 

 Krider. I have never met with this bird in Pennsylvania. None of the 

 naturalists or collectors whose lists of birds of Pennsylvania are before 

 me make any reference to it. 



GENUS TOTANUS BECHSTEIN. 

 Totanus melanoleucus (GMEL.). 



Greater Yellow-legs : Greater Tell-tale ; Greater Yellow-shanks. 



DESCRIPTION (Plate 81). 



Bill long, slender, and with deep grooves in front of nostrils ; tibiae mostly bare ; the 

 long and slender legs are yellow ; bill and claws black ; iris brown ; the short and 

 rounded tail is blackish with numerous transverse white bars ; upper tail coverts 

 white with few brownish bars ; upper parts generally brownish-black (ashy on back 

 of neck) with numerous white spots or edging on feathers ; chin, upper throat, lower 

 part of breast, abdomen, most of sides and under tail coverts white ; lower neck in 

 front and upper breast grayish-brown, with many dusky streaks. Length, bill to 

 end of tail about 14 inches ; extent about 25 ; bill about 2^ inches, never under 2. 



Habitat. America in general, breeding in the cold temperate and subarctic por- 

 tions of North America, and migrating south to Chili and Buenos Ayres. 



