652 A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



Breeding-habits. — Haunts low-lying marshy ground, estuaries 

 and shores of lagoons. Nest. — Sometimes on bare mud or sand, or 

 on short grass ; mere depression, lined at times with a few bits of drift 

 several pairs usually nesting together. Eggs. — Usually 4, sometimes 

 3 only, and rarely 5, not varying much, pyriform, spotted with 

 black on a clay-buff ground. Average of 100 eggs. 50.5x35: 

 Max. : 55.6x34.5 and 50.4x37.5. Min. : 46.8 X 34.3 and 48.3 X 

 31.2 mm. Breeding -season. — From end April onward in Spain and 

 from about May 7 in Holland, but oftener about -mid -May. Incu- 

 bation. — By both sexes. Period 24-25 days. Single brooded. 



Food. — Insects, picked up from the surface of water (diptera and 

 coleoptera), also Crustacea, especially shrimps (Crangon) and their 

 fry, and Corophium grossipes ; worms and fish-spawn also said to be 

 taken. 



Distribution. — British Isles. — Irregular migrant. Only in Norfolk,. 

 Kent and Sussex fairly regular in spring (May -June) but irregular 

 autumn. Elsewhere vagrant, very rare west side Great Britain and 

 north of Yorks. Gloucester (four), North Wales (one), Lanes, 

 (five), 0. Hebrides (two), Shetlands (two), Moray (one), Tay (one 

 probable). In Ireland obtained sixteen occasions and a few seen, 

 chiefly south and east coasts but Galway (one), Mayo (one), 

 Donegal (one), Aug. to Feb. Formerly summer -resident and bred 

 Humber to Sussex, last nests being mouth of Trent about 1837 

 {Birds Yorks., p. 589), and Kent 1842, and probably 1843 (Hist. 

 Birds Kent, p. 439). 



Distribution. — Abroad. — Breeds locally on shores of North Sea 

 (Denmark, Holland, Baltic), south France, Spain, from basin of 

 Mediterranean (formerly and perhaps still middle Algeria) east- 

 wards to shores of Black, Caspian and Aral Seas, across Asia to 

 China and in parts of Africa. Northern birds are migratory, 

 wintering in Africa and India, also Europe, casually north as far as 

 Holland. Different forms in N. America and Australia. 



Genus LIMOSA Briss. 



Limosa Brisson, Orn., I, p. 48 (1760 — Type by tautonymy " Limosa," 

 i.e. Limosa limosa, according to vol. v, p. 261). 



Bill very long, slightly recurved, tip a little dilated and 

 blunt. Wings long and pointed first developed primary longest. 

 Tail almost square. Legs very long, bare portion of tibia 

 longer than middle toe. Tarsus scutellated, but in L. lapponica on 

 upper part more or less broken up into hexagonal scales. Outer 

 and middle toes with small web at base, which is only indicated 

 between middle and inner. Hind toe well developed. Claw of 

 middle toe shorter and more curved in L. lapponica, longer and 

 straighter, also more or less " pectinated " in L. limosa. 4 species ? 

 several subspecies. 



