392 



LIMOSA FEDOA (BAIBD). 

 THE MARBLED GODWIT. 



Specific Character. Bill long, curved upwards ; both mandibles grooved ; 

 wings long ; tail short ; legs long ; tibia with lower half naked ; toes rather 

 short, margined and flattened underneath : the outer and middle toes united by 

 a rather large membrane. Entire upper parts variegated with brownish black 

 and pale reddish, the former disposed in irregular and confluent bands, and the 

 latter in spots and imperfect bands ; in many specimens the black colour pre- 

 dominating 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 the breast 

 and sides; under wing coverts and axillaries darker rufous; outer webs of 

 primaries dark brown; inner webs light rufous; secondaries light rufous; tail 

 light rufous with transverse bars of brownish black. Bill dull flesh colour in 

 its basal half, rest blackish brown ; iris brown ; feet bluish gray. 



Total length about 18.00 inches; wing, 9.00; bill, 4.00 to 5.00; tarsus, 3.00. 



Habitat. Throughout North America from ^the Atlantic to the Pacific 

 coast ; it has not been known to go very far north to breed, but its nests have 

 been found in Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas, etc. ; no record of its 

 breeding in Ontario. The Marbled Godwit is a migratory bird and it is durino- 

 its fall migrations that it is of interest to Ontario sportsmen, although it is not 

 met with so often now as formerly. It is highly praised as a game bird by epi- 

 cures, for its flesh is tender and juicy. Its food consists of leeches, worms, larvae 

 and snails. It winters in Central America and the West Indies. 



