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southward migration. Von MiddendorfF found it breeding on the large Schantar Island, and 

 procured full-grown young birds on the 11th of August. According to Dr. Jerdon it is met 

 with throughout India during the cold weather, generally in large flocks at the edge of the 

 water ; and Mr. R. Swinhoe writes that it is " said to be found on lakes and inland marshes of 

 China, whence it is brought to the Tientsin and Shanghai markets in winter. It is probably 

 from Mantchuria that these birds come, spreading down to the Indian archipelago southwards, 

 and eastwards to North Australia, to both of which places they resort in winter. Temminck 

 and Schlegel note it from Japan." Mr. Swinhoe afterwards obtained a specimen at Amoy in 

 partial summer plumage on the 13th of April. 



Respecting the nidification of this Godwit, we translate the following notes contained in a 

 letter received from our friend Dr. L. Taczanowski, of Warsaw : — " In Poland large numbers 

 breed in two marshy localities on the eastern part of the Vistula, in the Government of Lublin, 

 on the vast marshes between the rivers Wiperz and Bug, and on the marshes by the canal of 

 Augustow. It also breeds in some parts of the Government of Plock, but in fewer numbers, 

 and in other portions of our country is only rarely seen during migration. In the spring, when 

 the snow disappears, they arrive in the marshes and frequent the edges, waiting until the water 

 leaves their nesting-places. Usually they begin breeding early in May, and about the middle 

 of June young may be found fully fledged. They generally breed in large societies, in tolerably 

 damp places covered with high thin herbage where there are tussocks or small dry places, but 

 also in the fields (in scattered pairs or small colonies), and in small marshes covered with grass 

 and bushes. On the top of a tussock or a dry place they make a depression about three inches 

 deep, and line it carefully and neatly with dry grass, depositing four eggs, which both male and 

 female sit on. If a human being approach their nesting-colony, they meet him when some 

 distance from it, uttering loud cries, and returning again and again in larger numbers as he comes 

 nearer to their nests. When he is amongst the nests all the birds fly overhead uttering a 

 continual lamentation. If the intruder remains there any time, they become tamer, and a few 

 return to their eggs, especially if the latter are hard-set. Before they have eggs they are very 

 shy, rarely approaching within gunshot ; but when the young are hatched they are most 

 courageous, and will come within a few feet of the intruder, not even retreating when fired 

 at, and dozens may be killed. They will attack a cow or horse if they approach their 

 breeding-places, and attack and pursue any bird of prey or Crow that may pass near. When 

 the young have attained a good size the parents take them to some other place, generally to 

 the fields or shores of the lakes, where they assemble from all parts, and leave when old enough 

 to do so. This is the best time to shoot them, as both parents and young fly near the sportsman, 

 the latter not calling. All the families, when strong enough on the wing, assemble and leave us 

 very quickly, in small flocks, only stragglers remaining as late as July." 



Mr. A. Benzon, who met with it nesting in Denmark, informs us that " it breeds on the 

 west coast of Jutland, where it was formerly much more numerous than it is now. From thence 

 I have the young in down, taken on the 25th of June 1864, and several eggs. It lays four eggs ; 

 and the earliest taken were obtained on the 12th of April, and the last on the 4th of July ; but 

 they are usually deposited about the beginning of May. They measure from 48 by 37 to 56 by 38 

 millimetres. A pale variety, almost white, tinged with pale brown, is marked with violet shell- 



