398 NORTHERN ZOOLOGY. 



[165.] 1. Scolopax Novoboracensis. (Wilson.) New York Godwit. 



Genus, Limosa, Bniss. 



Red-breasted Snipe, Pens., Arct. Zooh, ii., p. 4G-1, No. 3G8. Autumnal plumage. 



Brown snipe. Idem, No. 3G9. Winter. 



Red-breasted Snipe {Scolopax Novoboracensis). Wilson, vii., pi. 58, f. 1. 



Macroramphus griseus. Leach, Cat. Brit. Mus. 



Becassine ponctuee (Scolopax grisea). Tesim., ii., p. 679 *. 



Totanus Novoboracensis (Redbreasted Snipe). Sab., Frank. Journ., p. G87- Autumnal plumage. 



Scolopax (Macroramphus) grisea. Bonap., Syn.., No. 267. 



This bird is well known in the fur countries, and has an extensive breeding 

 range from the borders of Lake Superior to the Arctic Sea. In the breeding 

 season, the whole under plumage is buff coloured, approaching to ferruginous, 

 in which state it has not hitherto been described. Individuals killed on the 

 Saskatchewan plains had their crops filled with leeches and fragments of cole- 

 optera. The Scolopax Novoboracensis forms a link between the snipes and 

 Godwits, having the bill of the former and the feet of the latter. 



* M. Temminck introduces this snipe into the list of European birds, on the strength of one individual having 

 been killed in England, and another in Sweden. The English specimen is represented in the Supplement to Mon- 

 tagu's Ornithological Dictionary by a figure, which Temminck terms " tris bonne" but which differs from our bird in 

 the legs being more slender and longer, the tarsus equalling the bill in length, which is also more slender at its base. 

 It does not appear to be from actual comparison of specimens, but solely from a correspondence in description, that the 

 Swedish bird, named by M. Nilson " Scolopax Paylcul/ii" has been referred to this species. — R. 



Limosa Edwardsii. The White Godwit. 



Genus, Limosa, Briss. 



The White Godwit from Hudson's Bay (Fedoa Canadensis rostro sursum recurvo). Edwards, pi. 139. 

 Posterior figure. 



We have thought it right to mention in a note, and designate by a specific name, a bird brought from Hudson's Bay 

 by Mr. Isham in 1745, and figured by Edwards. It was considered by this author to be the Common Godwit (Limosa 

 rufa, Briss.), changed to white by the coldness of the weather. The Limosa rufa is not known to inhabit America; 

 and Edwards's bird differs from the other Godwits described in this work, in the great curvature of its bill. I have 

 obtained no further information respecting this bird than that which is contained in Edwards's short description, 

 which is as follows : — 



" This bird is of the size of the Redbreasted Godwit (Limosa Hudsonica), and its measures agree pretty nearly 

 therewith, except the Bill, which is rather longer, and turns upwards towards its point, like that of Avocetta (recurvi- 

 rostra). The bill is of an orange colour, but black at the point ; it bends gradually upwards, like a scythe, and is 

 justly represented in the figure. The plumage of this bird is white all over, excepting the tail, the greater quills, and 

 the small feathers on the ridge of the wing, which are of a dirty or yellowish-white ; the covert feathers within side of 

 the wings are light brown ; the legs are bare above the knees ; the outer is joined to the middle toe ; the legs, feet, 

 and claws, are all of a dark brown colour." In the figure there is a web represented between the bases of the inner 

 and middle toes, probably through the inadvertence of the engraver, as it is not noticed in the text. — R. 



