OF THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 243 



Nidification. — The breeding season of the Black-tailed 

 Godwit commences in May, in Poland and Jutland, a little later 

 in higher latitudes, and the young may be seen fully fledged 

 towards the end of June. Although not strictly gregarious 

 during this period, numbers of nests may be found within a small 

 area of the marshes and swampy meadows on which this species 

 breeds. The nest is usually well concealed amongst the herbage, 

 and is often placed in a tussock of sedgy grass. It is merely a 

 hollow about three inches deep, but rather neatly lined with dry 

 grass and other vegetable refuse. The eggs are four in number, 

 various shades of olive-brown in ground colour, spotted and 

 blotched with darker olive-brown, and with underlying markings 

 of pale brown and gray. They are pyriform, and measure on an 

 average 2 "is inches in length by I's inch in breadth. As soon 

 as the breeding haunts are invaded the Godwits rise and fly to 

 and fro with noisy clamour, rarely if ever remaining on their 

 nests until approached ; and when the young are hatched they 

 become more bold, and venture within a few feet of the intruder's 

 head. They are said to be very pugnacious at this period; and 

 will even attack cattle that chance to stray on to their haunts, 

 and pursue with great fierceness any wandering Crow or Hawk 

 that invades their quarters. Only one brood is reared in the year, 

 and as soon as the young can fly they begin to move southwards. 



Diagnostic Characters. — Limosa, with the rectrices black 

 with white bases, and the axillaries white, sometimes obscurely 

 barred with brown. Length, 16 inches. 



R 2 



