SCOLOPACID.E — THE SNIPE FAMILY — LIMOSA. 261 



This species resembles somewhat the European L. cegoccplmla, having the tail marked much the , 

 same as in that species. The latter, however, has two white patches on the wing (which in the 

 present bird has no white at all, except the shafts of the primaries), tlie axillars pure white instead 

 of brownish bkick. There are also other diflerences of coloration, while the proportions are quite 

 different, L. (egocephala having the Ijill and legs much longer. 



South AmericiUi specimens are quite identical with northern ones. 



Mtiph reniaiiLS to be ascertained before the history of the habits and distribution 

 of this Godwit can be given with tolerable accuracy or completeness. It appears to 

 have a somew-hat irregular distribution over the United States, occurring in some 

 seasons in great abundance in regions wliere it was not known before, or where, in 

 succeeding j-ears, it has been of only irregular and occasional appearance. In the 

 United States it is only known as migratory, breeding north of the limits of the 

 Union, and in regions farther north than those in which the fedoa. has been found. 

 Its presence in Patagonia, as also in the Falkland Islands, is equally suggestive of a 

 wide, and perhaps irregular, distribution. 



It is not given by Dr. Crundlach as occurring in Cuba ; but is mentioned by Leo- 

 taud as one of the birds of the Island of Trinidad, where it is spoken of as much more 

 common than t\\e fedou, coming in August, and leaving in October. It is always 

 found in either the immature or the winter plumage, and is only to be met with on 

 the borders of the sea. 



Mr. G. C. Taylor mentions finding this species abundant on the shores of Fonseca 

 Bay, where it is in the habit of sitting on the branches of the mangrove-trees which 

 overhang the Avater. He considered it excellent eating. 



Mr. H. Durnford (''Ibis," 1877, p. 43), in his Observations relative to the Birds 

 observed by him in the Valley of tlie Chttpat, in Patagonia, states that during his 

 visit there in November, 1876, a small party of this Godwit was always to be found 

 in the shallow water at the west end of a large lagoon to the north of the village. 

 They were feeding in comj)any with Triruja maculata and a species — unidentified — 

 of JEglaiitis. On the 13th of November he procured two examples. 



Mr. C. C. Abbott ("Ibis," 18C1) mentions finding flocks of this species at Mare 

 Harbor, Falkland Islands, in the month of May. 186(t. He shot two of them at Port 

 Louis on the 20th of that month. Both had the red-barred breast, and were therefore 

 in the winter plumage. He did not notice the presence of this bird in those islands 

 during the winter months ; and even when found there in the summer, he has never 

 heard of its eggs having been detected. It was very wary, and difficult to i)rocure. 



Hearne, in his book of Arctic travels, published more than a century since, refer- 

 ring to this species as the " Eed Godwaite," states that it was then generallj' known 

 at the more northern settlements on Hudson's Bay as a Plover. He mentions that 

 it visited the shores of that portion of the bay in very large flocks, and usually fre- 

 quented the marshes and the margins of ponds. It also frequently attended the tide, 

 in the manner of the " Esquimaux Curlew " {Numenhis Hudsonicus). flying down to 

 the water's edge and feeding on a small fish not much unlike a shrimp ; but as the 

 tide advances, retiring to the marshes. The birds were said to fly in such large 

 flocks, and so closely together, that he was often able to kill as many as twelve at 

 one shot. And he further states that a Mr. Anderson, long a resident at Fort York, 

 actually killed seventy-two of this species at one discharge ; but this was after they 

 had alighted on the shore. Near Churchill Eiver they were seldom very fat, though 

 in tolerable condition, and they were said to be generally very good eating. They 

 usually weighed from ten to thirteen ounces. The two sexes differ both in color and 

 size, the female being always larger and of a much lighter brown than the male. 



