THE BLACK-TAILED GODWIT. A13 
served. Of course, thus treated, even Woodcock are dry and 
tasteless. 
Though they rise rather clumsily, these Godwit have a 
strong, rapid, and very direct flight when well on the wing; and 
as they fly rather high, almost out of shot, when passing from 
one broad to another, or when coming from or going to their 
feeding grounds, they often afford very pretty overhead shots. 
When rising or fluttering about feeding, the white wing bar is 
very conspicuous, and by this, like the lesser Red-Shanks 
( Totanus calidris) they may always be distinguished at a glance. 
I cannot remember often hearing this bird utter any sound, 
but during the breeding season, at any rate, they are represented 
as being very vociferous when their nests are invaded, and at 
other seasons they occasionally emit a clear whistled-call repeated 
two or three times in rapid succession as they rise. But, asa rule, 
I should call them eminently silent birds during the non- 
breeding season. 
SO FAR as is yet known this species does not breed within 
our limits. In Western Europe, although some few may 
breed in Iceland, and even well within the Arctic Circle 
in Finmark, and again in the Balearic Isles south of the 
4oth degree North Latitude, its normal breeding zone 
seems to be between 50° and 55° North Latitude. In Russia it 
breeds nearly as far north as the 6oth, and as far south as the 
45° North Latitude. 
As to their nidification I may quote what has been said of 
it in Holland and Poland. Yarrell says: “Mr. Hewitson says 
the Black-tailed Godwits commence laying their eggs early in 
in May. The nest is composed of dry grass and other vegetables, 
and is concealed amongst the coarse herbage of the swamps 
and low meadows. Mr. Hoy mentions that, when disturbed, they 
are clamorous, flying round and vociferating the cry of grzfto, 
grutto, grutto, by which name the bird is known among the 
country people in Holland.” 
Of their nidification in Poland, Taczanowski says: “Usually 
they begin breeding early in May, and about the middle of June 
young may be found fully fledged. They generally breed in 
large societies, in tolerably damp places covered with high, thin 
herbage, where there are tussocks or small dry places, but also 
in the fields (in scattered pairs or small colonies), and in small 
marshes covered with grass and bushes. On the top of a tussock 
or dry place they make a depression about three inches deep, 
and line it carefully and neatly with dry grass, depositing four 
eggs, on which both male and female sit. If a human being 
approach their nesting-colony, they meet him when some distance 
from it, uttering loud cries, and returning again and again in 
larger numbers as he comes nearer to their nests. When he is 
amongst the nests, all the birds fly overhead, uttering a conti- 
