LIMOSA iEGOCEPHALA. 
835 
the Canaries and, according to Yon Heuglin, in Madeira. It has also been obtained in the Faroe Islands, 
is said to he common in Iceland, and has on one single occasion been procured in Greenland, from 
which remote region it was recorded by Professor Baird in ‘The Ibis/ 1867, p. 282. 
Habits . — The Small God wit, like its congeners, inhabits by choice the vicinity of the sea-shore, frequenting 
sand banks, mud flats, and tidal estuaries ; but it is often found on freshwater marshes, flooded lands, the 
borders of large rivers, margins of lakes, and other such favourite localities as Waders usually resort to. 
It assembles in flocks more than most large shore birds, and moves about a good deal, not remaining many 
days in the same locality. Col. Irby states that they are very restless, shy, and difficult to get within shot 
of, and that the best way of obtaining them is to lie up for them or ride a stalking-horse. By this expedient I 
have known many birds, more especially Bustards, to be shot when no other plan succeeded. Captain Shelley, 
who often saw it alone, says that it feeds in company with Redshanks, Ruffs, and other Waders, but when 
on the wing keeps separate from them. At times it associates with small Waders, such as Stints. When not 
feeding it stands erect, with the neck drawn back and the bill horizontal, and thus assumes the position of an 
Egret. Messrs. Seebohm and Harvie Brown particularly remark upon this attitude in their paper on the birds 
of the Petchora River. In the breeding-season it is very noisy ; and Pallas likens its note at that time to the 
neighing of a foal. Its flesh is said to be excellent eating. 
Nidification . — Nothing is recorded of the nesting of this Godwit in Asia ; but in Europe its breeding-habits 
are well known. Dr. Taczanowski, of Warsaw, writes an interesting account of the species as observed on 
the Vistula to Mr. Dresser, from whose work I transcribe the following passage : — “ Usually they begin 
breeding early in May, and about the middle of June young may be found fully fledged. They generally 
breed in large societies, in tolerably damp places covered with high thin herbage where there are tussocks or 
small dry places, but also in the fields (in scattered pairs or small colonies) and in small marshes covered 
with grass and bushes. On the top of a tussock or a dry place they make a depression about 3 inches deep, 
and line it carefully and neatly with dry grass, depositing four eggs, which both male and female sit on. If 
a human being approach their nesting-colony, they meet him when some distance from it, uttering loud cries, 
and returning again and again in larger numbers as he comes nearer to their nests. When he is amongst the 
nests all the birds fly overhead uttering a continued lamentation. If the intruder remains there anytime, they 
become tamer, and a few return to their eggs, especially if the latter are hard-set. Before they have eggs they 
are very shy, rarely approaching within gunshot; but when the young are hatched they are most courageous, 
and will come within a few feet of the intruder, not even retreating when fired at, and dozens may be killed. 
They will attack a cow or horse if they approach their breeding-places, and attack and pursue any bird of prey 
or Crow that may pass near. When the young have attained a good size the parents take them to some other 
place, generally to the fields or shores of the lakes, where they assemble from all parts, and leave when old 
enough to do so.” 
From an examination of a series in Mr. Dresser's collection, many of them purchased in Leadenliall Market 
and procured in Holland, I find that the eggs of the Black-tailed Godwit are unlike those of most species 
of this family. They are of a pure olive tint, some browner than others, and are rather scantily marked 
with dusky brownish and olive-brown, in some eggs in the form of clouds, and in others of blotches and spots, 
very light in some, and more pronounced in others ; dusky grey, lightly indicated clouds underlie the upper 
markings. They are pyriform in shape and broad at the large end. They measure 2 - 14 by 154 inch, 2 - 24 
by 1‘53, and U94 by U48. 
