OP THE BEITISH ISLANDS. 201 



it until almost touched by the hand, whilst its mate flies out to meet an intruder 

 at least a mile from the spot, screaming all the time, both in the air and upon 

 the ground, and never leaving him until he is clear of the sacred neighbourhood. 

 The call-note of this Godwit at the nest is described by Mr. Popham as hoo-wah. 

 The eggs are four in number, olive-green of various shades in ground-colour, 

 spotted and blotched with darker brown, and with underlying markings of grey. 

 They measure on an average 2"1 inches in length by 1'45 inch in breadth. It is 

 impossible to distinguish them from eggs of the Black-tailed Godwit. Probably 

 this species rears one brood only in the season. 



Diagnostic characters — Limosa, with the lower back, rump, under 

 wing coverts, and axillaries white, obscurely marked with brown, the tail barred 

 with black and white. Length, 15 to 16 inches. 



