LIMOSA. 385 



The eastern form of the Bar-tailed Godwit is so much darker on the lower back and rump Variations, 

 that it is entitled to be regarded as subspecifically distinct. 



Scolopax lapponica, Linneus, Syst. Nat. i. p. 147 (1758) ; Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 246 (1766). Synonymy. 



Scolopax aegocephalaj Linneus, Syst. Nat. i. p. 147 (1758) ; Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 246 (1766). 



Limosa grisea major, -j 



Limosa rufa, VBrisson, Orn. v. pp. 272, 281, 284 (1760). 



Limosa rufa major, J 



Scolopax leucophbea, Latham, Index Orn. ii. p. 719 (1790). 



Totanus sesrocephalus (Z,mw.), -J „ 



, ^ ,' , / [Bechstem, Orn. Taschenb. ii. pp. 288, 289 (1803). 



lotanus leucophaeus [Lath.], j rr ^ \ j 



Totanus ferrugineus, Meyer, Taschenb. ii. p. 374 (1810). 



Limosa meyeri, Leisler, Nach.tr. Bechst. Naturg. ii. p. 172 (1813). 



Limicula meyeri (Leisl.), -\ 



T . . , 1 ■ rr- \ [ Vieillot, N. Diet. d'Hist. Nat. iii. pp. 249, 250 (1816). 



Limicuia lapponica (X/twre.), J x-r » \ / 



Limosa jadreca, -\ 



Limosa noveboracensis, > Leach, Syst. Cat. Mamm. ^c. Brit. Mus. p. 32 (1816). 



Limosa aegocephala(-Lmre.),-' 



Fedoa meyeri (Leisl.), \ 



Fedoa rufa [Briss.], > Stephens, Shaw's Gen. Zool. xii. pt. i. pp. 75, 77, 79 (1824). 



Fedoa pectoralis, J 



Limosa ferruginea {Meyer), Pallas, Zoogr. Rosso- Asiat. ii. p. 180 (1826). 



Totanus rufus [Briss.), Seebohm, Brit. Birds, iii. p. 156 (1885). 



Plates.— Daub. PI. Eul. no. 900; Gould, Birds of Gt. Brit. iv. pi. 51 ; Dresser, Birds of Europe, Literature. 



viii. pis. 573, 574. 

 Habits. — Seebohm, British Birds, iii. p. 156. 

 Eggs. — Seebohm, British Birds, pi. 29. fig. 8. 



The Bar-tailed Godwit may be distinguished from all its allies, as well as from its Specific 

 eastern race, by the fact that the lower back, rump, under wing-coverts, and axillaries are 

 white obscurely marked with brown. In the eastern form of this species the lower back 

 and rump are brown, each feather obscurely edged with white, whilst in the American 

 species of Bar-tailed Godwit these white edges are replaced by dark buff, which is also the 

 colour of the under wing-coverts and axillaries. 



The Bar-tailed Godwit has never been known to breed in any part of the British 

 Islands, although it has been suspected to do so on some of the wild and lonely Hebrides. 

 It is principally known as a visitor on migration, appearing in spring and autumn, most 

 numerous at the former season on the low-lying coasts south of Spurn Point. It visits in 



3b 



