324 
GREAT MARBLED GODWIT. 
and whole breast, very pale brown ; upper part of the body pale drab, 
centered and barred with dark brown, and edged with spots of white on 
the exterior vanes ; three first primaries black, with white shafts ; 
rump and tail-coverts barred with dark brown ; belly white ; vent the 
same, marked with zigzag lines of brown ; whole lining of the wing 
beautifully barred with brown on a dark cream ground ; legs and naked 
thighs a pale lead color. 
The figure of this bird, and of all the rest in the same plate, are re- 
duced to exactly one-half the size of life. 
Note. — Mr. Ord, in his reprint of the 8th vol., expresses his doubts 
of this species being the Esquimaux Curlew (i\T. borealis) of Dr. Latham ; 
as this ornithologist states his bird to be only thirteen inches in length, 
and in breadth twenty-one ; and the bill two inches in length. 
Prince Musignano, in his observations on the nomenclature of Wil- 
son's Ornithology, states that he has ascertained the N. borealis, Lath., 
to be a distinct species, and promises to figure it in his American Orni- 
thology. He considers Wilson's bird (N. borealis) to be the N. Hud- 
sonicxis of Latham. 
GENUS LXXII. SCOLOPAX. SNIPE. 
Species I. SCOLOPAX FED OA.* 
GREAT MARBLED GODWIT. 
[Plate LVI. Fig. 4, Female.] 
Arct. Zool. p. 456, No. 371. — La Barge rousse de Baie de Hudson, Buff, vii., 507. f 
This is another transient visitant of our seacoasts in spring and 
autumn, to and from its breeding place in the north. Our gunners call 
it the Straight-billed Curlew, and sometimes the Red Curlew. % It is a 
shy, cautious, and watchful bird ; yet so strongly are they attached to 
each other, that on wounding one in a flock, the rest are immediately 
arrested in their flight, making so many circuits over the spot where it 
lies fluttering and screaming, that the sportsman often makes great 
destruction among them. Like the Curlew, they may also be enticed 
within shot, by imitating their call or whistle ; but can seldom be ap- 
* This bird belongs to the genus Limosa of Brisson. 
f Scolopax Fedoa, Linn. Syst. ed. 10, p. 146, No. 8. S. hcemastica ? Id. p. 147, 
No. 14.— Edwards, pi. 137, 138.— Limosa rufa, Briss. v., p. 281, pi. 25, fig. 1. 
J It is better known under the name of Merline. 
