SCOLOPACIDiE — THE SNIPE FAMILY — LIMOSA. 
261 
This species resembles somewhat the European L. cegocephalco , having the tail marked much the 
same as in that species. The latter, however, lias two white patches on the wing (which in the 
present bird has no white at all, except the shafts of the primaries), the axillars pure white instead 
of brownish black. There are also other differences of coloration, while the proportions are quite 
different, L. cegocephala having the bill and legs much longer. 
South American specimens are quite identical with northern ones. 
Much remains to be ascertained before the history of the habits and distribution 
of this Godwit can be given with tolerable accuracy or completeness. It appears to 
have a somewhat irregular distribution over the United States, occurring in some 
seasons in great abundance in regions where it was not known before, or where, in 
succeeding years, it has been of only irregular and occasional appearance. In the 
United States it is only known as migratory, breeding north of the limits of the 
Union, and in regions farther north than those in which the fedocc has been found. 
Its presence in Patagonia, as also in the Falkland Islands, is equally suggestive of a 
wide, and perhaps irregular, distribution. 
It is not given by Dr. Gundlach as occurring in Cuba ; but is mentioned by Leo- 
taucl as one of the birds of the Island of Trinidad, where it is spoken of as much more 
common than th e fecloa, coming in August, and leaving in October. It is always 
found in either the immature or the winter plumage, and is only to be met with on 
the borders of the sea. 
Mr. G. C. Taylor mentions finding this species abundant on the shores of Fonseca 
Bay, where it is in the habit of sitting on the branches of the mangrove-trees which 
overhang the water. He considered it excellent eating. 
Mr. H. Durnford (“ Ibis,” 1877, p. 43), in his Observations relative to the Birds 
observed by him in the Valley of the Chupat, in Patagonia, states that during his 
visit there in November, 1876, a small party of this Godwit was always to be found 
in the shallow water at the west end of a large lagoon to the north of the village. 
They were feeding in company with Tringa maculata and a species — unidentified — 
of JEgialitis. On the 13th of November he procured two examples. 
Mr. C. C. Abbott (“Ibis,” 1861) mentions finding docks of this species at Mare 
Harbor, Falkland Islands, in the month of May, 1860. He shot two of them at Port 
Louis on the 20tli of that month. Both had the red-barred breast, and were therefore 
in the winter plumage. He did not notice the presence of this bird in those islands 
during the winter months ; and even when found there in the summer, he has never 
heard of its eggs having been detected. It was very wary, and difficult to procure. 
Hearne, in his book of Arctic travels, published more than a century since, refer- 
ring to this species as the “ Red Godwaite,” states that it was then generally known 
at the more northern settlements on Hudson’s Bay as a Plover. He mentions that 
it visited the shores of that portion of the bay in very large flocks, and usually fre- 
quented the marshes and the margins of ponds. It also frequently attended the tide, 
in the manner of the “ Esquimaux Curlew ” (Numenius Hudsonicus ), flying down to 
the water’s edge and feeding on a small fish not much unlike a shrimp ; but as the 
tide advances, retiring to the marshes. The birds were said to fly in such large 
flocks, and so closely together, that he was often able to kill as many as twelve at 
one shot. And he further states that a Mr. Anderson, long a resident at Fort York, 
actually killed seventy-two of this species at one discharge ; but this was after they 
had alighted on the shore. Near Churchill River they were seldom very fat, though 
in tolerable condition, and they were said to be generally very good eating. They 
usually weighed from ten to thirteen ounces. The two sexes differ both in color and 
size, the female being always larger and of a much lighter brown than the male. 
