THE BLACK-TAILED GODWIT 



THE BLACK-TAILED GODWIT. 

 Limosa belgica (J. F. Gmelin). 

 Plate 69. 



The Black-tailed Godwit, unlike the preceding species, used formerly to breed 

 regularly in the fens of our eastern counties, the eggs, according to Stevenson 

 {Birds of Norfolk, vol. ii. p. 250), having been taken at Reedham as late as 1857. A 

 few birds appear still to visit our country on passage, when they are more often seen 

 on the eastern and southern shores than elsewhere in England, while they are rare 

 in Scotland, though often visiting Ireland in autumn. 



The Black-tailed Godwit still breeds among the marshes of Holland and in 

 favourable localities in other parts of Central and Northern Europe, in Iceland, the 

 Faeroes, Siberia, and Turkestan, and retires southwards in winter to Southern 

 Europe, Africa, and Southern Asia. 



The nest is only a slight depression among the vegetation of the marsh or 

 tundra, and contains four eggs, in ground-colour a pale dull green, blotched and 

 spotted with olive-brown. 



This species is very noisy on its breeding ground being approached by anyone, 

 when it flies around the intruder, uttering loud cries, hence its local name of 

 "barker" or "yarwhelp," mentioned by Sir Thomas Browne of Norwich, who also 

 alludes to the reputation this bird had as " the dayntiest dish in England & I think 

 for the bignesse, of the biggest price " (see Notes on the Natural History of 

 Norfolk, by Sir Thomas Browne. Jarrold & Sons). 



As with the Ruff, it was formerly the custom to keep the birds in confinement 

 and fatten them for the table. 



The male is brighter in colour than the female, but she is the larger bird. 



THE COMMON CURLEW. 

 Numenius arquata (Linnaeus). 

 Plate 69. 



The Curlew, known in Scotland as "Whaup," is a very common bird on our 

 shores and estuaries in autumn and winter, and breeds plentifully among the 

 heather of the moorlands, especially in Scotland and Ireland. 



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