EASTERN BARRED-RUMPED GODWIT. 
that individuals, not disposed to breed, stay at some more southerly locality 
during the whole summer.”* 
“ Towards the end of March or beginning of April large flocks may be 
seen at the far north taking their departure from our country [New Zealand]. 
The departure from any fixed locality usually begins on almost the exact date 
yeaj after year, and for a week or ten days after the migration has commenced 
fresh parties are constantly on the wing, the flight generally taking place about 
sunset, and sometimes after dark. The main body fly in silence, but the 
straggling birds cry out at intervals, while endeavouring to overtake the flock 
in advance. Near the North Cape, Captain Mair has observed them flying 
northwards in tens of thousands, and always in considerable flocks, numbering 
from 700 to 1,200 birds in each, and the wonder is where they all come from. 
During the period mentioned, this excitement of departure is unabated — 
flocks forming and following each other in perpetual succession. 
“ On their return to this country they do not make a sudden appearance, 
but come in straggling parties during the month of October, and generally 
become more plentiful after the first week in November and about Christmas 
they are in full force again aU along our sea-shore. 
“ Sometimes the birds may be seen tlirusting their long pliant bills deep 
into the mud or sand, working them to the very hilt, and sometimes burying 
the fore-part of the head in the soft ooze, at another time they may be seen 
taking three or four hurried steps forward, and then halting for a moment to 
pick up some object from the surface ; but generally speaking they walk along 
with much deliberation, picking as they go. 
“ While resting on sand-banks at high tide, they always stand in the water 
so as to conceal the unfeathered tibia. ’’f 
Middendorf {Sibirische Reise, p. 217, 1851) found them breeding in great 
numbers on the River Taimyr (74° North lat.) where they arrived on June 3rd: 
“ The male and female can be distinguished at a distance not only on account 
of their size, but also on account of their colour.” After mentioning some 
structural characters whereby the male and female can be differentiated, he 
goes on to say they nest on the high tundras on the Taimyr. It was not 
easy to find the eggs as, while anyone approaching them was still at a distance, 
the birds, especially the males, flew towards him with a great commotion, 
so that the nest could not be located, like those of other Waders. By the end 
of June there were two to three eggs in a nest. On August 11th the 
last birds of this species were seen (75° North lat.). 
* Stejneger, Bull V.S. Nat. Mus., No. 29, p. 123, 1885, 
Buller, Birds New Zeal., 2nd ed., Vol. II., p. 42, 1888. 
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