BAR-TAILED GODWIT. 



Limosa rufa, Briss, 

 La Barge rousse. 



Notwithstanding multitudes of this bird visit our island during their vernal and autumnal migrations, we 

 possess no authenticated instance of its having remained and bred with us, nor even, indeed, is the colour of its 

 eggs satisfactorily ascertained. Like many others of the same tribe, they appear to make our island a resting- 

 place during their periodical nights only : we should observe, however, that a limited number sojourn with us 

 during the winter, the number being increased in spring by large flocks which have wandered further south- 

 wards ; the whole then return to their northern home. That Iceland, Lapland, and the regions within the 

 arctic circle are the summer abode of the Bar-tailed Godwit, is a fact not to be questioned ; and from thence 

 they retire in autumn divested of that richly coloured livery with which they are adorned at their departure 

 from the South in spring. Large flocks of the young also pass over at the time of the arrival of the adults, or 

 soon after : these are the progeny of the past summer, and are to be distinguished by a more spotted and 

 streaky plumage, and by their having the feathers of the whole of the upper surface margined with a lighter 

 colour ; the breast is then of a dull fawn yellow strongly streaked with brown. 



With regard to the adult birds, few species present a more decided contrast in the colours of their summer 

 and winter plumage ; from which circumstance has arisen much confusion and a perplexing list of synonyms in 

 the works of various writers ; indeed, both the males and the females, as well as the young, have been charac- 

 terized as distinct species, nor was it until very lately that these errors were corrected. 



The places most frequented by the Bar-tailed Godwit during its residence in our island are the low muddy 

 shores of the sea, the borders of creeks and inlets, saline marshes along the coast, and the mouths of large 

 rivers : here, with other Waders, they may be observed in small flocks busily searching for their food, which 

 consists of aquatic insects, worms, and mollusca. They run with great facility over the oozy ground, and fly, 

 when roused, to a considerable distance, uttering as they rise on the wing a hoarse deep note. Their visits 

 to the Continental districts take place at the same time as in our island. In Holland and the level parts of 

 France, which afford them a congenial residence, they abound much more than in England, and, like the 

 Black-tailed Godwit, are annually killed in great numbers and forwarded to the London markets. 



Both sexes assume the red plumage in spring, but it is much deeper and more conspicuous in the male : 

 the female is, however, considerably larger in size, as we have seen is the case with its near ally and many 

 others of its family. 



In summer the crown of the head and back of the neck are rufous, streaked longitudinally with blackish 

 brown ; the whole of the upper surface blackish brown mottled with rufous ; quills dark brown ; throat and 

 under surface deep rufous ; rump white ; tail barred with reddish white and black ; feet and legs dark olive ; 

 bill reddish yellow at the base and dark brown at the point. 



All the parts which are red in summer are greyish white in winter, and the dark markings of the upper 

 surface are exchanged for more obscure tints of brown. 



The Plate represents two birds, one in the summer and the other in the winter plumage, of the natural 

 size. 



