2 
1!LACK-TATI,EU GODWIT. 
following 3 ’oai‘ soveral in immature plumage made their appearance on Ilreydon, the specimens from wdiich 
the figures in the Plates were taken being shot on the 31st of August, 1872. 
The last Black-tailed Godwits that came under my notice during the autumn migration were a couple 
of immature birds seen on the loth of August, 1881, on a rush-grown marsh within a few miles of the sea- 
coast, and seldom of late years have I met with a chance of closely inspecting such a mixed party of IVaders 
and IVildfowI. Owing to the heavy rain which had fallen incessantly for several days, much water was 
out on many of the marshes, the land in some instances being entirely submerged with the exception of 
the hanks thrown up along the dykes. Expecting that the floods, as was commonly the case at this season, 
would have attracted a few fowl, I made my way cautiously in a punt to a spot near which a small party of 
leal hod been previously observed to settle. After working the bows of the craft carefully into a thick patch 
of rnshes, I crawled forward, and with the help of a powerful pair of glasses at once discovered that my 
approach had hren made without raising the slightest alarm in the assembled multitude. Though a couple of 
Common Sandpipers rose within three feet of the bows of the boat, they alighted again iinmediately on a 
heap of old timber, used to form a bridge when cattle were driven from one marsh to another. A few yards 
further a flock of Garganey, that must have consisted of at least a couple of broods, were swimmimr round 
about the sedges or trampling on the broken rushes where a footing could be obtained, apparently eno-aoed in 
searching for food. The adjoining patch of flags afforded shelter to some eight or ten Shovellers, smiattinw 
azi y among the roots of the plants till roused and put on the alert by the arrival of a coll ” of Common 
leal, which swept rapidly round for a couple of turns and then dropped out on the open water. On 
examining the short grass by the dyke side more closely a Snijie or two and several Dunlins were detected • 
while on a iMtcli of mud and wood that rose up slightly above the surface of the flood two Black-tailed 
Godwits, resting contentedly with necks contracted and their heads drawn back, showed up most conspicuously 
above a swmrm of smaller Waders that I was unable at the moment to identify, owing to the spots of drifting 
ram eolleeting on the glasses. After watching this animated scene for over an hour, scarcely a bird with the 
exeqition of Snipes, King-Dotterel, and a few stray Peewits and Eedshanks. having risen on wing or shifted 
their positions the assemblage was suddenly broken up with no little uproar by a shot tired at some distance 
on the uplands. For a few moments the whole marsh appeared alive with wings as one after another the 
vaiious parties of Atildfowl and Waders rose up, some only to settle again, and others after wheeling in the 
air for a time to make rapidly olf for other quarters. The Black-tailed Godwits surrounded by a swarm of 
ood-Sandpipers (ideiitihed at last) sprung up and, mute, as usual • at this season, flew steadily' off in a line 
fm- the coast, the Sandpipers circling round the marshes and drawing up a few Dunlins in pursuit for a 
time, but eventually rising high in the air and following a course of their own. In the midst of the General 
outcry fte well-known note of the Whimbrel was heard, as three or four couple that had escaped notice'mnon. 
“'“' 7 banks sprung up and made off direct tor the shore ; a small party 
Eeeves as wel as two separate pairs of Green Sandpipers were also unobserved till after clearin- the Lds 
and willows. After a ew minutes’ absence the Wood-Sandpipers, shortly followed by the Eeeves, were .amah: 
10 ng ovei the spot from which they rose, darting down with rapid flight, and after hovering for a moment 
on lliittering and extended wings disappearing into the long grass. The Common Teal and Shovellers had 
long ago settled on some outlying shades, while the Garganey, having paid not the slightest attention to tlm 
uproar, were still slushing in the shallows. Invariably suspicious of danger, and jllous of th “lHit 
^ tiially dropped on a Gotten 
* I have never heard immature Black-tailed Godwits utter any note. 
