WATER BIRDS. 191 
104. Hudsonian Godwit. Limosa hemastica (Linn.). (251) 
Synonyms: Black-tailed Godwit, White-rump, Black-tailed Marlin.—Scolopax hema- 
stica, Linn., 1758.—Limosa hudsonica, Sw. and Rich., Nutt., Aud., and other authors, 
Limosa hemastica of more recent writers. 
Similar to the preceding but somewhat smaller, and with the rump 
and upper tail-coverts pure white, unspotted. This mark, together with 
the slender, nearly straight, but slightly up-curved bill, should identify 
the bird in any plumage. 
Distribution.—Eastern North America and the whole of middle and 
South America. Breeds only in the far north. 
Not common anywhere in the United States, probably less abundant 
than the Marbled Godwit. It is also more northern in its summer distribu- 
tion, nesting in Arctic and sub-Arctic regions, for example, on the Barren 
Grounds of British America, in the Anderson River region, etc. In Mich- 
igan it occurs only as a very rare migrant and records are very few at best. 
According to Dr. Gibbs, the late D. D. Hughes had a specimen taken in 
Calhoun county in April, 1868. There is one (an adult in spring plumage) 
in the Barron collection at Niles, without data, but probably taken there. 
MclIlwraith states that he has seen it in spring at St. Clair Flats, and also 
on the shore of Hamilton Bay (Ontario), where the specimen in his collec- 
tion was obtained (Birds of Ontario, 1894, 149). Trombley records it from 
the shore of Lake Erie, near Monroe (Swales MS. List, 1904). It seems to 
be rare in neighboring states, although specimens have been recorded 
from Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin. The latest instance of its 
nearby capture is a male taken at Point Pelee, Ont., north shore of Lake 
Erie, May 13, 1905, by P. A. Taverner. 
It nests on the ground, laying four deep olive eggs, sometimes unmarked, 
but oftener spotted or mottled with darker brown, and averaging 2.20 by 
1.42 inches. 
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 
Tail black, with white base and tip, the tail-coverts with a broad white band. Summer 
adult: Head and neck pale chestnut, streaked with dusky; lower parts deeper chestnut, 
barred with dusky; back, etc., blackish, irregularly varied with buffy. Winter plumage: 
Back, etc. plain, dull brownish gray; head, neck and lower parts dull whitish or pale grayish 
buffy, shaded with brownish gray anteriorily. Young: Back, etc. dull brownish gray, 
each feather marked with a submarginal dusky crescent and margined terminally with 
buffy, the belly whitish and chest more grayish. Length 14 to 16.75 inches; wing 8.10 
to 8.60; culmen 2.85 to 3.45; tarsus 2.25 to 2.50 (Ridgway). 
105. Greater Yellowlegs. Totanus melanoleucus (Gmel.). (254) 
Synonyms: Big Yellowlegs, Winter Yellowlegs, Tell-tail, Stone Snipe—Scolopax 
melanoleuca, Gmel., 1789.—Gambetta melanoleuca, Bonap., 1856.—Totanus vociferus, 
Vieill., 1816.—Totanus melanoleucus of recent authors. 
Figure &4. 
The combination of the slender, straight bill about 2} inches in length, 
long yellow legs, and nearly white rump, always speckled more or less, is 
peculiar to this species. ; 
Distribution.—America in general, breeding from Iowa and northeastern 
Illinois, etc. northward, and migrating south to Chili and Argentine 
Republic. 
