Birds. 1173 



designed for seeking insects in oozy and watery ground. Its feet are 

 semi-palmate, or half-webbed. 



Common Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Limosa Tufa. Dr. Fleming 

 has, by mistake, applied the specific term segocephala to the black- 

 tailed godwit, I propose, however, restoring it to this species, since it 

 is its old specific title : the present bird being the Scolopax aegoce- 

 phala of our early zoologists. The godwit varies much in plumage, 

 according to the season, sex and age, and is readily known from 

 the whimbrel by the bill being curved upwards. Inhabits the sea- 

 shore, and the sides of the Tees, in small flocks at the latter part of 

 the year. Mr. Herbert informs me that it feeds greedily upon barley. 



Curlew, Numenius arquatus. The curlew frequents our grass- 

 fields inland in August and September, when it is extremely good 

 eating. The statement of Pennant that its " flesh is very rank and 

 fishy," only refers to it in the winter, and other times w T hen it seeks its 

 food on the sea-coasts. In the summer it is seen in our more elevat- 

 ed moor lands. 



Whimbrel, Numenius phaopus. Less abundant with us than the 

 preceding. 



Common Redshank, Totanus calidris. Not uncommon in the 

 Tees Bay, and has been known to breed in the marshes near Port- 

 rack. At some parts of the year it is a solitary species, but at others 

 becomes gregarious. Its shrill scream or whistle sounds wild and 

 not unpleasing. 



Common Sandpiper, Totanus hypoleucus. 



Spotted Sandpiper, Totanus macularius. " In my collection, shot 

 shot on the Tees." —J. G. 



Greenshank, Totanus glottis. " In my collection ; not uncom- 

 mon, but never numerous."—*/. G. 



Ruff, Machetes pugnax. The female is called Reeve. The male, 

 the larger of the two, varies perhaps more than any other bird in its 

 livery, and is only seen w T ith its handsome ruff or frill around the neck 

 in the breeding season. Occasionally, though very rarely, shot in our 

 marshes near the Tees. It passes, on its migrations, as well into the 

 south of Europe, as into Scandinavia and Russia. 



Woodcock, Scolopax rusticola. The woodcock arrives here about 

 the 15th of October, but doe's not remain with us, proceeding to the 

 larger woods further inland. The greater number of these birds come 

 with a north-east wind during the full moon, in the latter end of Oc- 

 tober, which, with us, is called the " hunter's moon." Once only I 

 remember to have seen a woodcock on its direct passage ; its flight 



