366 CHAEADEIID^. 



$ man similis, vix major. 



PtU. astiv. Sabtus striis et maculis bmimeis magis distincte notatnis. 



Sab. North Ameeica, breeding in the extreme north, wintering chiefly south of the 

 United States ^^. — Mexico, Mazatlan (Grayson ^, Kegel ^, Forrer ^^), Eio Zacatula 

 {Xantus ^), Ventosa Bay, Tehuantepec (Sumichrast ^) ; Guatemala, Lagoon of 

 Chiapam (0. S.^^^^); Hondueas, Fonseca Bay (Taylor^); Costa Eica {v. Frant- 

 zius ^), Punta Arenas {Zeledon i^), San Lucas ( Underwood, in litt.). — South Ameeica 

 generally in winter ^^ ; Galapagos Is.^^. 



This species belongs to the group of Whimbrels, and, like the European ^. j?A6E0/)ms, 

 has a pale streak down the middle of the crown, the sides of which form a broad 

 lateral band of black. 3". hudsoniciis is a much smaller bird than A', longirostris, and 

 is distinguished by its dusky axillaries and under wing-coverts, which are barred with 

 brown and pale rufous. 



Its breeding-range extends far to the north, and in winter the bird wanders over the 

 greater part of the Neotropical Region. In Honduras, Cavendish Taylor found the 

 species abundant on the shores of Fonseca Bay, sitting on the branches of the mangrove- 

 trees overhanging the water ^. Salvin also found it very abundant about the lagoons 

 of Chiapam ^- 



The habits of this Whimbrel are apparently very similar to those of the European 

 species, and, like the latter, it frequents the shores and mud-flats daring migration, 

 being generally found in small companies ; in these situations its food consists of 

 worms, small molluscs, &c., but in more northern latitudes berries form a staple article 

 of diet. 



The nest is a depression in the ground with a few dead leaves for lining ; the eggs 

 are four in number, of a creamy-drab colour, spotted with slaty brown i*. 



LIMOSA. 



Limosa, Briss. Orn. v. p. 261 (1760) ; Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxiv. p. 372 (1896) . 



The Godwits differ from the Curlews in having the bill straight or only slightly 

 upturned ; it is of considerable length, exceeding the dimensions of the tail. 



The typical forms {Limosa) have a world-wide distribution, but the range of some 

 of them, both in the Old World and the New, is rather peculiar. Five species are 

 known, and of these L. lapponica breeds in the arctic regions of Europe and Siberia 

 and winters in the subtropical portions of the Old World, like L. fedoa of America, 

 whereas L. novcB-zealandicB, L. cegocephala, and L. hudsonica, which breed further 

 north, extend their winter range into the southern hemispheres. 



Only one, L. fedoa, appears to occur within our limits on its migrations, the two 

 other American species of the genus apparently passing to their winter homes by other 

 routes than through Central America. 



