332 THE GREAT MARBLED GODWIT. 



mud or sand-bar, to fire with a certainty of obtaining something worth his 

 trouble, for besides the number killed by his first shot, he is likely to com- 

 mit equal havoc with the second, as they fly off in a dense mass. 



On the 31st of May, IS 32, I saw an immense number of these birds on 

 an extensive mud-bar bordering one of the Keys of Florida, about six miles 

 south of Cape Sable. When I landed with my party, the whole, amounting 

 to some thousands, collected in the manner mentioned above. Four or five 

 guns were fired at once, and the slaughter was such, that I was quite satisfied 

 with the number obtained, both for specimens and for food. For this reason, 

 we refrained from firing at them again, although the temptation was at times 

 great, as they flew over and wheeled round us for awhile, until at length 

 they alighted at some distance and began to feed. Those which we killed 

 were plump, and afforded excellent eating. I was much surprised to find 

 these Godwits so far south, but next morning, when none were to be seen 

 excepting some wounded birds which we had not pursued, I concluded that 

 the flock, which was "the largest I have seen, had merely alighted there for 

 the day. 



The flight of this bird is regular and rather quick, although in the latter 

 respect not to be compared with that of the Curlews. When flying to a 

 considerable distance, or migrating, they usually proceed in extended lines, 

 presenting an irregular front, which rarely preserves its continuity for any 

 length of time, but undulates and breaks as the birds advance. The beat of 

 their wings is regular, and they rarely utter any cries on such occasions. 



This species enters the United States, on its return from its northern 

 breeding-grounds, about the middle of August, and probably travels along 

 the coast at that period as well as when proceeding northward, none having 

 been seen by me or my party in Labrador or Newfoundland, and their 

 passage having been observed only on the Atlantic shores of Nova Scotia, 

 and the whole line of our coast, on different parts of which some of the 

 flocks alight, and rest for a few weeks, both in spring and in autumn. I 

 may add, that I never saw one of these birds beyond the distance of a few 

 miles from the sea-shore. 



Great Marbled Godwit, Scolopax Fedoa, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. vii. p. 30. 



Limosa Fedoa, Bonap. Syn., p. 328. 



Limosa Fedoa, Great Marbled Godieit, Swains, and Rich. F. Bor. Amer., vol. ii. 



p. 395. 

 Great Marbled Godwit, Nutt. Man., vol. ii. p. 173. 

 Great Marbled Godwit, Limosa Fedoa, Aud. Orn. Biog,., vol. iii. p. 287; vol. v. p. 



590. 



Male, 16J, 2S£. Female, 20£. 



Passes in spring from Texas along the coast, in immense flocks, to Massa- 



