BLACK-TAILED GODWIT 357 



south-eastern counties of England. Nowadays it appears 

 but as a passing migrant in spring and autumn, a few 

 stragglers remaining until the winter. 1 It occurs most 

 often during the southern migration in August and September, 

 and again in April and May, on its passage northward to 

 breed. North of the coast of Yorkshire, its visits become 

 scanty and irregular. 



In Scotland it is seldom observed. Kecently, September 

 12th, 1905, a specimen was obtained at the Ythan estuary, 

 Aberdeenshire (G. Sim, ' Zoologist,' 1905, p. 466). Mr. 

 Saunders mentions one obtained at Loch Spynie in the 

 autumn of 1878, and another on Westray, Orkneys, on 

 September 27th, 1894 ; Tiree, in the Inner Hebrides, is 

 visited sometimes in spring. Mr. Harvie-Brown mentions 

 one or perhaps two recently obtained in the Outer Hebrides 

 (' Avifauna Of The Outer Hebrides,' 1888-1902. Ann. Scot. 

 Nat. Hist., 1902-1903). 



Ireland is probably visited by small numbers of this 

 species annually in autumn. At other seasons of the year 

 records are exceptional. Mr. Ussher mentions one taken 

 in June on the Moy estuary, co. Mayo, and a pair in July 

 in co. Longford. Mr. Warren records a few specimens seen 

 or obtained in nuptial plumage on the Mayo coast (' Birds 

 of Ireland/ p. 307, also ' Irish Naturalist,' 1903, p. 112). In 

 the Zoologist' for 1902, p. 316, Mr. F. Coburn states that 

 he received a female in full winter-plumage from Limerick. 



This is the larger and more elegantly shaped of the two 

 species of Godwits. In its general habits it resembles its 

 congener. 



Flight. On the wing it displays great power and 

 velocity, indulging in aerial evolutions no less wonderful 

 than those performed by the last species. The broad white 

 band on the tail is very evident as the bird flies low over 

 the dark sands. 



Voice. The alarm-cry, heard in autumn on the coast, is 

 of a somewhat musical and whistling character ; it may 

 be syllabled chu-tte-chuo, chu-tee-chuo. 



Food. This consists mainly of marine worms, insects, 

 and small shell-fish. 



1 In the 'Zoologist,' 1905, p. 70, the Rev. Julian Tuck mentions that he 

 procured a female specimen " in almost complete winter plumage," from 

 a game-dealer's shop in Bury ; the bird was obtained from Lynn. 



