428 HUDSONIAN GODWIT. 



inner webs pale grey ; tips of the primary coverts and bases of the quills, 

 white, as is a broad band over the rump. Tail feathers and upper tail- 

 coverts brownish-black, their bases white, and their tips narrowly edged 

 with brownish-white. The lower parts are bright yellowish-red, the sides 

 mottled with dark brown ; the abdomen and lower tail-coverts paler and 

 variegated with dusky ; the lower wing-coverts blackish-brown, edged 

 with whitish. 



Length to end of tail 15| inches, to end of wings I6f, to end of claws 

 19| ; wing from flexure 8^ ; tail Q^ ; extent of wings 28 ; bill along the 

 back 3/2 ; along the edge of lower mandible 3/g ; bare part of tibia 1^ ; 

 tarsus 2^ ; middle toe lj\, its claw ^|. Weight 9 oz. 



Young Female in winter. Plate CCLVIII. Fig. 2. 



The bill, iris and feet, as in the adult male. Upper part of the head 

 dusky, with darker lines ; sides of the head, and the neck, greyish-yel- 

 low ; a whitish band over the eye. The lower parts are pale brownish- 

 grey, the upper brownish-grey ; the fore part of the back and scapulars 

 brownish-black, the feathers edged with light brownish-red ; the wing- 

 coverts brownish-grey ; the quills as in the adult, as is the tail, anterior 

 to which is also a broad white band. 



In September 1835, I shot, near Edinburgh, a young individual of 

 Limosa rivfa^ which 1 had previously observed for some time. It thrust 

 its bill into the wet sand in the same manner as the Woodcocks ; and I 

 was much surprised, on taking it up, to see that its bill was perfectly 

 straight in its whole length. When I opened it, however, in order to 

 place a little cotton in its throat, a sudden spring-like movement of the 

 mandibles made them curve upwards. Never having kept birds of this 

 genus alive, I am unable to say whether the bill be naturally straight or 

 not. 



