MARBLED . GODWIT. 167 



obtain a kind of food which would otherwise be imperceptible 

 to any other sense. It no doubt likewise varies this fare and 

 feeds also upon insects and larvse. These^ birds arrive on the 

 coasts of the Middle/ States, in the month ; of May, and linger 

 on till some timeiin June. Ma^y, however, at this time have 

 already arriyed at their ultimate destination in the North, so 

 that it is not improbable but some of these Godwits may breed 

 in more temperate regions to the west as well as north, select- 

 ing the high plains of the Rocky Mountains in situations suffi- 

 ciently moist. At all events, they are seen in the lower part of 

 Missouri, in, the course of the spring, but migrate like most 

 other waders along the sea-coast in the way to their tropical 

 winter,! quarters. 



The Marbled ,Godwit in large flocks appears in the salt- 

 marshes of Massachusetts about the middle of August, par- 

 ticularly towards the eastern extremity of the bay, round 

 Chatham aud the Vineyard ; , their stay is, however, very short, 

 and they at ,the same timej no doubt, visit the eastern coast of 

 Long Island, On these occasions they assemble by many 

 hundreds together, an4 usually associate with the Short-Billed 

 Curlews, they themselves being called Red Curlews, — though 

 here they are distinguished .also by the name of Doebirds, 

 and,,, being a)t this season fat, are highly esteemed for the 

 table. They are very shy and cautious ; but when once con- 

 fused -by the,, fall; and; iCries ,of any of their companions, great 

 destruction may be made among them before they recover 

 from.ljheidelusion : they thuSj make repeated, circuits round the 

 Grounded and compkining, and may be enticed within gun- 

 shot by imitating their whistling call, after the manner of the 

 Curlew. Indeed, without, some contrivance of ' this kind they 

 can seldom be apprpached. 



' These birds are abundant in the West, but on the Atlantic coast 

 they appear only in small .flocks .during,, the spring and a,utumn 

 migrations. They breed, from Iowa, to the Saskatchewan, and 

 winter in Central America and southward. 



