( *37 ) 
The Greater American Godwit. 
HIS Bird feem’d to be a good Deal bigger than a Woodcock. Some of its prin- 
cipal Meafures are as follows ; the Bill is full four Inches long, the Wing when 
doled eight Inches and a half, the Leg from the Knee to the Foot near three Inches, 
the middle Toe one Inch three Quarters ; the Legs are bare of Feathers one Inch and 
a half above the Knee. 
The Bill is long, ftraight, and pretty flender 5 the upper Mandible a little longer 
than the Nether ; that Llalf of its Length next the Head is of a bright Yellow, 
which changes gradually to Dufky, until it becomes Black at the Point. The Nof- 
triis are placed pretty near the Head, and the Eyes more diftant from the Bill than in 
other Birds. It hath a dufky fpotted Line pafling from the Bill through the Eye ; 
above the Eye is a white Line ; the Sides of the Head beneath the Eyes, and the 
under Part of the Head are White. The Top of the Head, Hinder-part of the 
Neck, Back, and Covert-Feathers of the Wings are of a dark-brown Colour, with 
tranfverfe black Lines, mixed in a broken and confufed Manner ; the Rump and 
upper Side of the Tail are lighter and of a brighter Brown, barred acrofs with 
Black; the greater Quills of the Wings are dark Brown or Black; thofe next 
them, and their particular Coverts, are Orange-Colour, powder'd with fmall black 
Spots; the Remainder of the Quills that fall next the Rump are Brown and Black 
like the Back of the Bird. The Covert'Feathers on the Ridge of the Wing, that 
fall over the prime Quills, are Dufky with white Tips : The inner Coverts of the 
Wings are Orange-Colour. The Fore-part of the Neck is light Brown, with fmall 
black Spots tending downwards; the Bread: is alfo light Brown, with fine dufky 
tranfverfe Lines ; the Belly, Thighs, and Coverts under the Tail are of a brownifh 
White ; the Sides under the Wings whitifh, with fine tranfverfe dufky Lines ; the 
Coverts beneath the Tail have alfo fine tranfverfe dufky Lines. The Legs are bare 
of Feathers a good Way above the Knees, the outer Toe is joined to the middle one 
by a Membrane; the Legs and Feet are all cover'd with Scales of a dufky or black 
Colour. 
This Bird was brought from Hudfon'$~Bay by Mr. IJham . It is bigger than any 
Bird deferibed under this Name by Mr. Willughby , and differs much in Defcrip- 
tion, fo that it may be deemed a Non-defcript. It is called by the Englijh at 
Hudfon’$-Bay , a Curlew . See WlUtighbf s Defcriptions of this Tribe of Birds, in his 
Ornithology , P. 292, 293. 
The 
