57 



TELL-TALE GODWIT, OR SNIPE. 

 SCOLOPAX rOCIFEEUS. 

 [Plate LVIII.— Fig. 5.] 



Htont Snvpt, Arct, ZooL 468, t^*o. 376.— Turt. Syst. p. 396. — Pjbale's Mmeiiiih JVIo. 394©. 



THIS species and the preceding are both well known to our 

 Duck-gunners, along the sea coast and marshes, by whom they 

 are detested, and stigmatized with the names of the greater and 

 lesser Tell-tale^ for their faithful vigilance in alarming the Ducks 

 with their loud and shrill whistle, on the first glimpse of the gun- 

 ner^s approach. Of the two the present species is by far the most 

 watchful; and its whistle, which consists of four notes rapidly re- 

 peated, is so loud, shrill and alarming, as instantly to arouse every 

 Duck within its hearing, and thus disappoints the eager expecta- 

 tions of the marksman. Yet the cunning and experience of the 

 latter, is frequently more than a match for all of them, and before 

 the poor Tell-tale is aware, his warning voice is hushed for ever, 

 and his dead body mingled with those of his associates. 



This bird arrives on our coast early in April, breeds in the 

 marshes, and continues until November, about the middle of which 

 month it generally moves off to the south. The nest I have been 

 informed is built in a tuft of thick grass, generally on the borders 

 of a bog or morass. The female, it is said, lays four eggs of a dingy 

 white, irregularly marked with black. 



These birds appear to be unknown in Europe* They are 

 simply mentioned by Mr. Pennant, as having been observed in au- 

 tumn, feeding on the sands on the lower part of Chatteaux Bay^ 



VOL. VII. p 



