331 



THE GREAT MARBLED GODWIT. 



-f Limosa Fedoa, Linn. 



PLATE CCCXLVIIL— Male and Female. 



This fine bird is found during winter on all the large muddy flats of the 

 coast of Florida that are intermixed with beds of racoon-oysters. As the 

 tide rises it approaches the shores, and betakes itself to the wet savannahs. 

 At this season it is generally seen in flocks of five or six, searching for food 

 in company with the Tell-tale, the Yellow-shanks, the Long-billed Curlew, 

 and the White Ibis. While feeding, it probes the mud and wet sand, often 

 plunging its bill to its whole length, in the manner of the Common Snipe 

 and the Woodcock. It is fond of the small crabs called fiddlers, many of 

 which it obtains both by probing their burrows, and running after them 

 along the edges of the salt meadows and marshes. Sometimes you see it 

 wading in the water up to its body, and when about to lose ground, it rises 

 and extends its wings, still continuing to search for fry, until forced to fly 

 off by the increased depth of the water, when it alights on the shore and 

 recommences its operations. While feeding on the banks, it appears to 

 search for food between and under the oysters with singular care, at times 

 pushing the bill sidewise into the soft mud beneath the shells. Towards the 

 middle of the day, the separate flocks come together, assembling on some 

 large sand-bar, where they remain for hours, trimming their plumage, after 

 which many of them continue some time motionless, standing on one leg. 

 Suddenly, however, they are all seen to stretch their wings upwards, their 

 bleating notes are heard, and the next moment the flock rises, and disperses 

 in small parties, each of which proceeds in a different direction in search of 

 food. 



Few birds are more shy or vigilant than the Great Marbled Godwit. It 

 watches the movements of the gunner with extreme care, particularly while 

 in small flocks, in which case it rarely happens that one can approach them, 

 and they are more commonly shot by coming unawares over the concealed 

 sportsman. When in large flocks I have known them to be neared, and 

 killed in great numbers. On such occasions, they walk towards each other, 

 until they are quite close, when they stand still. Then is the time for the 

 gunner, who has driven them before him as it were, to the extremity of a 



