BAR-TAILED GODWIT. 
3 
Before leaving this locality, as some Eowl and Waders were required to distribute among the people, I 
availed myself of a few of the chances offered, Avithout, hoAvever, meeting Avith any great success. At the 
first discharge an excellent opportunity for heavy slaughter Avas lost, fifty-two GodAvits only and a couple 
of Knots being obtained. The combined flocks Avere sweejung rapidly doAvn the flats, folloAving the 
course of a Avinding channel in Avhich the punt Avas stationed, and on approaching Avithin the distance of 
eighty yards the whole body in an instant turned off to the right and swept across the mudbanks, a small 
portion only of the immense flight being exposed to a hasty cross shot. On another occasion twenty-four 
GodAvits and seventy Knots Avere gathered : this Avas a second failure, the tide rising so rapidly that 
large numbers of cripples Avere SAvept from the shore by the rush of AAnter before those nearest at hand 
Avere collected *. 
In addition to the GodAAuts met AAutli at the Little Kerry, I have also seen this species in Avinter on 
the slides of the Eiith of Eorth betAA'cen Gullane Bay and North BerAA'iek. A fcAV small parties Avere 
noticed in the marshes in the neighbourhood of Salthouse and Cley in Norfolk, in January 1872. Breydon 
flats AAOuld doubtless be resorted to all through the season, Avere the birds alloAvcd but a short cessation 
of hostilities. All round the south coast Godwits appear annually during severe Aveather on the mudflats 
and occasionally on the marshes. It is seldom this species is met Avith on grass-lands ; the frosts and 
snows of January 18G7, however, brought several scattered parties to Peveusey Level. I noticed these 
aders eagerly searching for food among the patches of green rushes in a marsh where the ground AVas 
free from suoaa'. 
To give all the extracts from my notes referring to the presence of the Bar-tailed Godwit during spring 
and autumn is useless. At such seasons this species, as previously stated, is by no means uncommon on 
all suitable parts of the southern and eastern counties. The flocks migrating towards their breeding-haunts 
appear, according to my own experience, for the most part to strike across the North Sea before reaching 
the Scotch coast. A few stragglers at times remain on our shores in summer; these birds, however, at 
this season seldom show the perfect breeding-plumage. I noticed a small party in company with Knots on 
the sands in Edderton Bay, in the Dornoch Eirth, at the end of June and beginning of July 18G8. 
The young on Dieir first arrival in autumn are exceedingly fearless. Like the majority of the Eowl 
and IVaders reared in the deserted regions of the far north, these birds appear, unfortunately for their own 
safety, to be totally unacquainted Avith the destructive propensities of human nature. 
Though I am unable to speak from personal experience, the edible qualities of the Godwit are 
evidently held in but slight estimation. On the counter of the game-dealer this species is seldom, if ever, 
seen, though hundreds recently killed are now and then exhibited on the stalls in the markets. During 
severe weather they are also hawked about the streets by itinerant traders, who bestow various higli! 
sounding titles on their wares in order to tempt unsuspecting customers. 
On this portion of the north-east coast the flood-tide rushes in across the flats with the utmost rapidity. 
