636 



SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS.— LIMIC0L2E. 



Ameeican Black-tailed Godwit. Eing-tailed Marlin. Feathers on side of lower 

 mandible reaching to a point far in advance of those on upper. Kump blackish. Most upper 

 taU-coverts conspicuously white ; longest coverts and the tail-feathers black with white bases, 

 those of the tail-feathers most extensive, and the latter also white-tipped. The appearance 

 of the parts connectively is therefore of a black rump, theu a broad white bar, then a broad 

 black bar, then a narrow white bar. Lining of wings sooty- blackish, mixed with sonae white; 

 axillars black. Under parts rich ferruginous or chestnut-red, everywhere crossed with numer- 

 ous iriTgular black bars, several on each feather, and usually also crossed, especially behind, 

 with similar white bars, such variegation of black, white, and red most pronounced on the 

 under taU-coverts. Upper parts blackish (brownish-black with greenish gloss), intimately 

 mixed with rufous and ochrey or whitish, these lighter colors forming indentations on the edges 

 of each feather. Primaries blackish, with white shafts and white basal spaces ; their coverts 

 the same, with white tips. BiU hght, probably orange or reddish, the terminal third black ; 

 legs black. Length 14.50-16.50 T extent 24.00-26.50; wing 7-50-8.50; tail 3.00-3.50; biU 

 2.75-3.50; tibia bare 1.00 or more; tarsus 3.25-2.55 ; middle toe and claw 1.30-1.70. 9 

 averages larger than (J; weight 9.00-9.50 oz. ; (J 7.50-8.00 oz. Immature or wiuter specimens : 

 Specific characters of wings and tail much the same. Upper parts dark ash, with black shaft- 

 lines, the back varied more or less with black patches and whitish or rufescent markings. 



Fig. 443. — Willet, nat. size. (Ad iiat. del. E. C.) 



Under parts whitish, more or less rufescent, with traces of black bamng. N. Am. generally; 

 C. and S. Am. and W. L ; not noted W. of the R. Mts., and apparently not common any- 

 where in the U. S. ; breeds in high latitudes. The American representative of L. ccgocephala. 

 Eggs 4, average 2.18 X 1.40, very heavy brownish-olive, with the usual markings. 



630. L. segoce'phala. (Gr. alyoKe(t>a\os, nujolcephalos, goat-headed : name of some bird.) Euro- 

 pean Black-tailed Godwit. Very like the last ; characters of rump and tail substantially 

 the same ; at once distinguishable by white (not black) liniug of wings and axillars. Europe, 

 etc. ; only American as occurring in Greenland. 



631. L- uropygia'lis. (Lat. uropygialis, relating to uropygium , the rump.) White-tailed 

 Godwit. Pacific Bar-tailed Godwit. Rump, tail, and its upper coverts, white, more 

 or less tinged with rufous, barred throughout with black. Lining of Avings and axillars white, 

 former varied, latter barred, with dark gray. In summer, upper parts blackish, everywhere 

 varied with rusty-red ; head, neck, and under parts rusty-red. In winter, grayish-brown 

 above, the feathers with darker centres and blackish shaft-lines ; below, whitish ; sides and 

 crissum with sagittate black marks. Averaging less than £. /ada ; bill 3.50-4.50. A widely 

 distributed Old World species, very near the bar-tailed godwit of Europe, L. lapponica, and 

 probably identical with L. novm-zealandim ; lately ascertained to occur in Alaska, where it is 

 common, and known to breed. Eggs like those of other godwits, 2.22 X 1.47. 



243. SYMPHE'MIA. (Gr. a-viKprjui., sumphemi, I speak with.) Sbmipalmate Tattlers. Bill 



