HLACKWINGED STILT — I3LACKTA1LED GODWIT. 197 
probable that the observer, trusting to memory, has been mis- 
led by the recollection of cold weather in the early spring. 1 
saw an Avocet in the salt-water marsh at Uyea Sound, on the 
4th of March 1871, but have never met with any other specimen. 
It was quite alone, and unfortunately I had no opportunity of 
watching it for more than half a minute, some people passing 
by frightening it away far inland. 
THE BLACKWINGED STILT. 
Himantojpus melanopterus. 
Dr Lawrence Edmondston observed one among some Golden 
Plovers some years prior to 1843, but neither the year nor the 
date can be remembered. Messrs Baikie and Heddle record 
two that were killed at Lopness, in Orkney, in 1841. 
THE BLACKTAILED GODWIT. 
Limosa melanura. 
This is by no means a common bird, but it occasionally visits 
the islands in autumn and spring. On the 5th of June 1866, 
passing the small sandy beach of Skioting in Balta Sound, I 
saw what appeared to be a Whimbrel running by the water’s 
edge ; I pulled up leisurely, but seeing a decided tinge of red 
upon the plumage I crouched down and allowed the boat to 
drift towards the shore. When I was within the distance of 
about forty yards the bird got up, and I immediately shot it. 
It proved to be a very pretty specimen of the Blacktailed Godwit. 
It was a female, and had nearly acquired its breeding plumage ; 
the stomach contained sand, small stones, pieces of shells, and 
numerous skins of grubs. The eye was nearly black ; the bill 
with the basal two-thirds warm yellow ochre, tinged with lake, 
the remaining third deep olive brown ; a week after death, the 
light-coloured part of the bill was brownish vermilion, after- 
