LIMOSA, 79 



ever, there is a species so very similar to the Whimbrel as to 

 have generally been confounded with it. That species, Nu- 

 menius Hudsonicus, may be at once distinguished by its 

 having no white on the rump. 



Whimbrel. Little Curlew. Half Curlew. Curlew Jack. 

 Tang Whaap. Mayfowl. 



Scolopax Phseopus, Linn. Syst. Nat. i, 243. Numenius 

 Phseopus, Lath. Ind. Ornith. ii. 711. Numenius Phseopus, 

 Temm. Man. d'Ornith. ii. 604. Numenius Phseopus, Whim- 

 brel Curlew, MacGillivray, Brit. Birds, iv. 



GENUS XCVIII. LIMOSA. GODWIT. 



The Godwits may be likened to Curlews having the bill 

 not arcuate or decurved, but slightly rearcuate or recurved. 

 They are generally of smaller size, and of a rather more 

 slender form. Bill about twice the length of the head, or 

 more, slender, at the base higher than broad, tapering, to- 

 ward the end depressed, in its whole length slightly curved 

 upwards ; both mandibles flexible in a considerable degree, 

 laterally grooved nearly to the points, which are slightly en- 

 larged and obtuse ; upper mandible with the ridge flattened 

 at the base and toward the end, elsewhere convex ; lower 

 with the angle long and very narrow ; the edges of both soft, 

 blunt, and grooved. Mouth extremely narrow ; palate with 

 two rows of papillae on each side, and three anterior rows ; 

 tongue long, emarginate and papillate at the base, fleshy at 

 first, but soon becoming horny, trigonal, grooved above, ta- 

 pering to a fine point ; oesophagus long and narrow ; pro- 

 ventriculus oblong ; stomach a strong gizzard, elliptical, 

 compressed, with radiated tendons, rather large lateral mus- 

 cles, and dense, rugous epithelium ; intestine rather long and 

 narrow ; coeca small, cylindrical, slender. Eyes small. Nos- 

 trils basal, linear. Aperture of ear moderate. Legs long or 

 of moderate length, slender ; tibia bare for rather more than 

 a third ; tarsus scutellate ; toes rather short, slender, broad, 

 and flattened beneath, the outer connected with the third by 

 a rather large basal web, running out narrow to the end of 

 both toes, the hind toe very small, and elevated ; claws small, 

 arched, compressed, rather obtuse. Plumage moderate, 

 blended, on the upper parts rather compact ; wings long, 



