80 TRINGIN.E. LIMOSA. 



narrow, pointed, with thirty quills, the first longest, the rest 

 rapidly graduated ; secondaries slightly incurved, some of 

 the inner much elongated and tapering ; tail short, of twelve 

 rounded feathers, the four medial a little longer. 



The Godwits differ little from the Curlews in their habits. 

 They are generally distributed, and two species occur in 

 Britain. 



190. LIMOSA RUFA. BARRED-TAILED GODWIT. 



Bill about four inches long, bent upwards ; male about fif- 

 teen, female seventeen inches long ; tarsus about two inches 

 and two-twelfths ; bill flesh-coloured, dusky in its terminal 

 half; feet greyish-blue, toes darker, claws black, short, blunt, 

 that of the middle toe without curvature. In winter, the head 

 and neck pale grey, with small brownish-grey streaks ; a 

 broad band over the eye ; the throat, breast, and other lower 

 parts white ; feathers of the fore part of the back and scapu- 

 lars grey, with a central brown streak ; hind part of back 

 white ; tail white, with eight dusky bars. In summer, the 

 upper part of the head blackish-brown streaked with reddish ; 

 band over the eye light red ; cheeks, throat, and lower parts 

 yellowish-red ; feathers of the fore part of the back and scapu- 

 lars blackish-brown, mottled with reddish-yellow and light 

 grey ; hind part of back white with yellow spots ; tail white, 

 barred with brown. Young with the upper part of the head 

 blackish-brown, streaked with pale brownish-grey ; band over 

 the eye white, dotted with brown ; cheeks and neck all round 

 light brownish-grey, streaked with grey ; lower parts white ; 

 upper variegated with blackish-brown and pale reddish-grey ; 

 hind part of back white, with dusky spots ; tail white, barred 

 with dusky. 



Male, 15, 30, 8 T V, 3i, 2 T a ff , 1 T 2 *, T V Female, 11%, 31. 



When seen flying at a moderate distance, this bird so much 

 resembles the Whimbrel, that I have several times mistaken 

 it for that species. It appears in small flocks on our coasts 

 in the beginning of September, frequenting more especially 

 the muddy parts at the mouths of streams, remains with us 

 during the winter, and disappears in April. Its flight is 

 moderately rapid, light, somewhat buoyant, and greatly re- 

 sembles that of the Curlews. It emits a loud, shrill whistle, 

 and on rising utters a low, modulated sound. Walking for 

 the most part sedately, but sometimes running, it taps and 

 probes the mud and sands in search of worms and other small 



