168 LIMOSA. 



and N. Asia in summer; Africa, S. Asia, Malay Archipelago, and Australia in 

 winter. Winter visitor to India, Ceylon, and Burma. Eggs (2-3 x 1-7) olive, 

 spotted brown. Its note is a whistling " titterel " repeated seven times. T. H. 

 Thornley, of Birkenhead, reported that on 4.10.94, in lat. 12° 33' N., long. 26° 

 38' W., a Whimbrel, N. phceopiis, came on board the homeward bound E.M.S.S. 

 Thames,: and being exhausted and starved, was easily caught. The nearest land 

 would be Cape Verd Islands, lying about 200 miles to the north. 



Also N. variegaius, 15", which replaces N. phcBopus in E. Siberia and Japan, extending 

 in winter to the Malay Archipelago and Australia. 



N. hudsonicus. $ 14". 9 17". Similar to N. phceopus. From N. America, wintering 

 in S. America. 



N. tahiiiensis. S 18J". 9 17". From N. America, visiting the Pacific Isles, where it is 

 believed to breed. 



JV. borealis. 6 13J"- 9 14"- The Eskimo Curlew. With quills uniformly coloured, and 

 without bars on inner webs. 



Also the genus Mesoscolqpax. One genus — M. minutus, 13", with tarsus transversely scutel- 

 lated both in front and behind, from E. Siberia, passing through Japan and China on its 

 migrations to the Moluccas and Australia. 



Genus LIMOSA. 



Limosus ^muddy, from limus=wai. 



Bill lengthened, straight or bent upwards, cylindrical at base, obtuse at tip; 

 both mandibles grooved at side. Plain plumage, in winter grey-brown, in summer 

 rufous in both sexes. Males smaller than females. Eemiges twenty-eight. First 

 quill longest. Tail even. Tarsus transversely shielded in parts both in front and 

 behind. Hind toe well developed. Second, third, and fourth toes fringed on 

 both sides. Mid claw curved and often pectinated. Like Snipes in bill, and like 

 Stints in plumage. Scattered nearly all over the world. 



Axillaries white, with or without dusky bars. 



160. Limosa belgica. The Blaoe-t ailed Godwit. 



The Linnean form of alyoKi<t>aKoi, a bird mentioned by Aristotle ; from af^=a goat, and 

 KeipoM] = the- head. 



Goodera, Gairiya, N.W.P.; Malgujha, Nepal; Jaurali, Bengal; Susling, Sivd; 

 Tonda ulanka (Telugu). 



S 16" to 18"; 8 to 12 oz. ? 18" to 21"; 9 to 15 oz. Legs dusky. Bill 

 3J-" to 5", fleshy. — In viirder: Above ash-brown. Short supercilia and spot under 

 each pye white. Below grey-white. Tail, basal one-third white, terminal two- 

 thirds black. — In summei- : Back black, tipped rufous. Breast rufous. Abdomen 

 white. Migratory, breeding in Europe and Asia, and wintering in S. Europe, 

 N. Africa, S. Asia, Malay Archipelago, and Australia. Common in N. India 

 from October to March. Eggs (2-1 x 1-5) olive, spotted brown. (J. 875. B. 1456.) 

 See illustration, p. 169. 



161. Limosa lapponica. The Bab-tailed Godwit. 

 Lappon1ca=oi Lapland. 



(? 13J" to 14|"; 7J to 10 oz. ? 15|"; 9 to lU oz. Legs black. Bill 

 3" to 3^", pink and black. — In winter : Above earthy, and dark central shaft. 

 Lower back and rump white, with heart-shaped brown spots. Upper tail-coverts 

 white, with irregular brown bars. Mid-tail ashy, tipped white, and barred white 

 and brown towards base. Outer rectrices barred throughout. Below white. 



