Family CHARADRIID^. Genus Limosa. 



Subfamily Totan/n.e. 



BAR-TAILED GODWIT. 



LIMOSA mjYK—Brisson. 



Geographical Distribution.— ^r///^/^ . Well-known visitor 



on spring and autumn migration, most numerous during the 

 vernal flights on the coasts of the eastern counties of England 

 south of the Humber. Most abundant and widely distributed in 

 autumn, but commonest on the eastern coast line. Passes the 

 Orkneys and Shetlands, the Outer Hebrides, and the Channel 

 Islands. Commonest in Ireland during autumn and winter, 

 especially on the west coast. By far the greater number of birds 

 that visit us in autumn pass south, but a few remain to winter on 

 our coasts, especially in the east of England ; on the sole 

 authority of Mr. Abel Chapman they are said to occur in 

 thousands even during the hardest winters on the coast of 

 Northumberland, which is contrary to my own experience on 

 the Lincolnshire coast, as well as to that of most other com- 

 petent observers. Perhaps some other species has been mistaken 

 for them. Foreign : Northern and western Palsearctic region in 

 summer ; small part of Oriental region in winter. Breeds on the 

 tundras above the limits of forest growth from Lapland in the west 

 across Northern Europe and Siberia, probably as far east as the 

 valley of the Yenesay. It is an accidental wanderer to the Faroes, 

 and passes the western coasts of Europe on migration, to winter in 

 the basin of the Mediterranean, principally in Northern Africa ; 

 and occasionally straying to the Canaries. Gambia on the west, 

 and the Somali Country on the east, appear to be the southern 

 limits. The birds breeding in West Siberia appear to migrate 

 down the valleys of the Tobol and the Ural into the Caspian 



