BLACK-TAILED GODWIT. 27 



on the ground, at any other time than when they have a nest 

 or young ones. When asleep this species generally stands 

 with its head behind its wing. 



The food of the Black- tailed Godwit is obtained by boring 

 the ground with its long beak, and drawing forth worms and 

 aquatic insects of divers descriptions. The time of feeding 

 is early in the morning or late in the evening, either on the 

 muddy shores of rivers, or in meadows where worms may be 

 found in abundance, but moonlight nights enable it to con- 

 tinue feeding later. 



Migration always takes place during the night ; mid-day 

 being the time for roosting. Sociability is not among the 

 virtues of these birds, for, except during the time of migration, 

 when they unite in troops of forty or fifty individuals, they are 

 not fond of each other's company. About the beginning of 

 April this bird arrives in its breeding-place with its mate, and 

 forms its nest on the ground, not far from the water's edge ; 

 the construction of the nest is very trifling ; the hole, which is 

 scratched in the ground, and only deep enough to hold the 

 four eggs, is scantily lined with a few grasses and roots. The 

 bird takes no trouble to conceal her nest, in which the eggs 

 lay so exposed that they are easily seen. The ground where 

 the Black-tailed Godwit breeds is, low wet meadows or grassy 

 banks near water, in places least frequented by men. 



The parent birds are very much attached, to their young 

 ones, which they endeavour to defend to the last, by flying 

 round, and round the intruder or enemy ; the young birds 

 are so expert in hiding themselves as soon as they leave the 

 nest, that it is not very easy to find, them without the aid of a 

 dog. As soon as the young begin to flutter about, the parents 

 leave them, and retire to some lonely spot, where they await 

 their change of plumage or autumnal moult, and then begin to 

 migrate southward. The young birds of the year invariably 



