TELL-TALE GODWIT. 69 
found it quite abundant at those seasons along the entire length of 
the Mississippi, Ohio, and Missouri rivers, as well as on the Arkansas. 
They congregate in great numbers in the inland marshes of Florida, 
and along its rivers, during the winter. I found them near Eastport, 
in the State of Maine, on the 11th of May 1833; and on the coast 
of Labrador, on the 18th of June of the same year. In Newfound- 
land, on the 11th of August, the young were equal in size to their 
parents, and being extremely fat, tender, and juicy, afforded excellent 
eating. In general, however, these birds are thin and have a fishy taste. 
In the State of Maine and the province of New Brunswick, the 
Tell-tale is known by the name of “ Humility,” which, however, is an 
appellation that ill accords with its vociferous habits. ‘lhe Creoles 
> 
of New Orleans call it “ Clou-clou ;” and were these syllables ra- 
pidly enunciated from two to five times in succession, the sounds 
would have some resemblance to the usual notes of the species. 
When these Godwits arrive in the vicinity of New Orleans about 
the middle of March, they appear in considerable flocks. They retire, 
however, in the beginning of May, and return about the first of July, 
from which time they continue there until the end of autumn, some 
indeed remaining all winter. It seems, that at the period of their 
disappearance at New Orleans, they retire to the vast marshes near 
the sea-shore, and there breed, for I have found them abundant near 
the passes or mouths of the Mississippi in pairs, on the first of April, 
when the air is warmer than in the interior. They are said to breed 
in the marshes along the coast of New Jersey, where, according to 
Wilson, they arrive early in April, and continue until November. It 
is a curious fact that the Tell-tale Godwit, as well as some other birds 
of similar habits, is of very rare occurrence along the shores ot Massa- 
chusetts and Maine. This, however, seems to be accounted for by 
the absence there of the large spongy marshes, to which these birds 
are fond of resorting. 
Although found in the vicinity of both salt and fresh water, at all 
seasons, it usually prefers the latter, and the spots which appear to be 
best adapted to its nature are ponds of which the water is shallow 
and the shores muddy, so that they can waik and wade at ease upon 
them. Wherever such ponds occur, whether in plantations or in the 
interior of forests, or on extensive savannahs or prairies, there you 
will find them actively employed, wading so far into the water as to 
