288 GREAT MARBLED GODWIT. 



the extremity of a mud or sand-bar, to fire with a certainty of obtaining 

 something worth his trouble, for besides the number killed by his first 

 shot, he is likely to commit equal havock with the second, as they fly off 

 in a dense mass. 



On the 31st of May 1832, I saw an immense number of these birds 

 on an extensive mud-bar bordering one of the Keys of Florida, about six 

 miles south of Cape Sable. When I landed with my party, the whole, 

 amounting to some thousands, collected in the manner mentioned above. 

 Four or five guns were fired at once, and the slaughter was such, that I 

 was quite satisfied with the number obtained, both for specimens and for 

 food. For this reason, we refrained from firing at them again, although 

 the temptation was at times great, as they flew over and wheeled round 

 us for a while, until at length they alighted at some distance and began 

 to feed. Those which we killed were plump, and afforded excellent eat- 

 ing. I was much surprised to find these Godwits so far soutli, but next 

 mornino-, when none were to be seen excepting some wounded birds which 

 we had not pursued, I concluded that the flock, which was the largest I 

 have seen, had merely alighted there for the day. 



The flight of this bird is regular and rather quick, although in the 

 latter respect not to be compared with that of the Curlews. When flying 

 to a considerable distance, or migrating, they usually proceed in extended 

 lines, presenting an irregular front, which rarely preserves its continuity 

 for any length of time, but undulates and breaks as the birds advance. 

 The beat of their wings is regular, and they rarely utter any cries on such 

 occasions. 



This species enters the United States, on its return from its northern 

 breeding-grounds, about the middle of August, and probably travels along 

 the coast at that period as well as when proceeding northward, none ha- 

 ving been seen by me or my party in Labrador or Newfoundland, and 

 their passage having been observed only on the Atlantic shores of Nova 

 Scotia, and the whole line of our coast, on different parts of which some 

 of the flocks alight, and rest for a few weeks, both in spring and in au- 

 tumn. I may add, that I never saw one of these birds beyond the dis- 

 tance of a few miles from the sea- shore. 



