72 
AMERICAN GODWIT. 
inches in length, a little turned up towards the ex- 
tremity, where it is black ; the base is of a pale pur- 
plish-flesh colour : chin and upper part of the throat 
whitish : head and neck mottled with dusky-brown 
and black on a ferruginous ground : breast barred 
with waved lines of black : back and scapulars black, 
marbled with pale brown : rump and tail-coverts of a 
very light brown, barred with dark brown : tail even, 
except the two middle feathers, which are a little the 
longest : wings pale ferruginous, elegantly marbled 
with dark brown ; the four first primaries black on the 
outer edge ; inside and lower parts of the wings 
bright ferruginous : belly and vent light rust colour, 
with a tinge of lake. The female differs in wanting 
the bars of black on the breast. 
Inhabits North America. They are a shy, cau- 
tious, and watchful bird ; but, according to Wilson, 
they are so strongly attached to each other, that on 
wounding one in a flock, the rest are immediately 
arrested in their flight, and make so many circuits 
over the spot where it lies fluttering and screaming, 
that the sportsman often makes great destruction 
among them. They are found in the salt marshes of 
the United States in May, and part of June, and 
also on their return in October and November ; at 
which time they are usually fat and in high estima- 
tion for the table. 
