LIMOSA BELGICA. 289 



March ; they are observed returning in August and September." 

 Favier. 



Favier also further asserts that this species occasionally remains 

 to breed in Morocco a statement which sounds improbable, and 

 therefore to be received with reserve, though it would not perhaps 

 be more surprising than the fact of the Crane, Peewit, and the 

 Dunlin nesting so far south as they have been proved to do. 



The Black-tailed Godwit appears in Andalucia during February, 

 in bands of from four or five to as many as two or three hundred, 

 frequenting the grassy marshes or rather inundated ground about 

 Casas Viejas and the marisma. They are very restless, and 

 continually on the move, uttering their loud cries. As they are 

 usually rather wary and difficult to get a shot at, the best chance 

 of obtaining any is either to lie up for them, or, in Spanish 

 fashion, to use a stalking-horse. Their numbers vary considerably 

 in different years ; and they do not seem to stay long in the same 

 district, as some hundreds may be noticed one day and hardly 

 any on the next. The passage continues far into the month of 

 March, by which time they are well advanced in their rufous 

 breeding-plumage ; and this ruddy appearance shows much when 

 they are on the wing. The earliest assumption of this dress was 

 observed on the 24th of February. Immense quantities are 

 brought into Seville market for sale during March ; and the 

 latest seen there was on the 6th of April. In that district their 

 local name is Sarseruelo ; but about Casas Viejas they are known 

 as Abujeta, evidently a word of Moorish origin. 



They are excellent eating and fully deserve the derivation 

 which has been given of their English name " Godwit," i. e. 

 good food (from " good," and " wihta," animal). 



I have no note of their autumnal migration ; but occasionally 

 they are met with in winter, usually solitary birds, as I killed 

 one on the 5th of December at Tapatanilla, and have seen others 

 now and then obtained in January. 



Larger than last ; upper tail-coverts white ; tail black, with white base ; 



U 



