BuLLEK. — Xoles un the OriiltJwIogij of N'ew Zealand. 195 



received from Dr. von Haast some years ago, as a novelty from the south. 



LiMosA NOViE-zEALANDi^, Gray. — Godwit. 



Captain Mair has contributed something more to the history of this 

 migratory wanderer. In my account of the species* I have stated that our 

 godwit spends a portion of the year in Siberia, and visits in the course of 

 its annual migration the islands of the Indian Archipelago, Polynesia, 

 Australia, and New Zealand. Von Middendorff, who met with these bh'ds 

 in great numbers in Northern Siberia (74-75° N. lat.), states that they 

 appeared there on the 3rd June, and left again in the beginning of August. 

 In the months of September and April, Swinhoe observed migratory floclis 

 on the coast of Formosa ; and during the winter months he met with the 

 species again still further south. Von Middendorff found it also in summer 

 on the south coast of the Sea of Ochotsk, although it did not appear to 

 breed there ; and it has likewise been observed in China, Japan, Java, 

 Celebes, Timor, Norfolk Island, and the New Hebrides. I have already 

 described the manner in which they take their departure from this country, 

 at the North Cape, towards the end of March or beginning of April, Eising 

 from the beach in a long line and with much clamour, they form into a 

 broad semi-circle, deployed forwards, and, mounting high in the air, 

 generally take a course due north. Sometimes they rise in a confused 

 manner, and, after circling about at a considerable height in the air, return 

 to the beach to reform, as it were, their ranks, and then make a fresh start 

 on their distant pilgrimage. The departure from any fixed locality usually 

 begins on almost the exact date year after year ; and for a week or ten days 

 after the migration has commenced fresh parties are constantly on the 

 wing, the flight generally taking place just after sitnset. The main body 

 fly in silence, but the straggling birds cry out at intervals, while endea- 

 vom'ing to overtake the flock in advance. Near the North Cape, Ca]3tain 

 Mair has observed them flying northward in tens of thousands, and always 

 in considerable flocks, numbering from 700 to 1,200 birds in each, and the 

 wonder is where they all come from. During the period mentioned, this 

 excitement of departure is unabated — flocks forming and following each 

 other in perpetual succession. Though the greater number of the birds 

 migrate, some remain with us during the winter, and it is not unusual, even 

 in mid-winter, to see a flock of several hundred consorting together on the 

 sand-banks. It has been remarked that at this season they are much 

 tamer and more a^Dproachable than at other times. On their return to this 

 country they do not make a sudden appearance, but gradually become more 

 plentiful after the first week in November, and about Christmas they are in 

 full force again all along our sea shore. Capt. Mair has sometimes observed 



* "Birds of New Zealand," pp. 199, 200. 



