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THE GREAT MARBLED GODWIT. 



LiMOSA Fedoa, Vieill. 

 PLATE CCXXXVIII. Male and Female. 



This fine bird is found during winter on all the large muddy flats of 

 the coast of Florida that are intermixed with beds of racoon oysters. As 

 the tide rises it approaches the shores, and betakes itself to the wet savan- 

 nahs. At this season it is generally seen in flocks of five or six, searching 

 for food in company with the Tell-tale, the Yellow-shanks, the Long-billed 

 Curlew, and the White Ibis. While feeding, it probes the mud and wet 

 sand, often plunging its bill to its whole length, in the manner of the 

 Common Snipeand the Woodcock. It is fond of the small crabs called fid- 

 dlers, many of which it obtains both by probing their burrows, and run- 

 ning after them along the edges of the salt meadows and marshes. Some- 

 times you see it wading in the water up to its body, and when about to 

 lose ground, it rises and extends its wings, still continuing to search for 

 fry, until forced to fly off by the increased depth of the water, when it 

 alights on the shore and recommences its operations. While feeding on 

 the banks, it appears to search for food between and under the oysters with 

 singular care, at times pushing the bill sidewise into the soft mud beneath 

 the shells. Towards the middle of the day, the separate flocks come to- 

 gether, assembling on some large sand-bar, where they remain for hours, 

 trimming their plumage, after which many of them continue some time 

 motionless, standing on one leg. Suddenly, however, they are all seen to 

 stretch their wings upwards, their bleating notes are heard, and the next 

 moment the flock rises, and disperses in small parties, each of which pro- 

 ceeds in a different direction in search of food. 



Few birds are more shy or vigilant than the Great Marbled Godwit. 

 It watches the movements of the gunner with extreme care, particularly 

 while in small flocks, in which case it rarely happens that one can ap- 

 proach them, and they are more commonly shot by coming unawares over 

 the concealed sportsman. When in large flocks I have known them to 

 be neared, and killed in great numbers. On such occasions, they walk 

 towards each other, until they are quite close, when they stand still. Then 

 is the time for the gunner, who has driven them before him as it were, to 



