GENUS 72. SCOLOPAX. SNIPE. 
SPECIES 1. SCOLOPAX FEDOA* 
GREAT MARBI.ED GODWIT. 
[Plate LVI. — Fig. 4. — Female.’] 
Jlrct. ZooL p. 456, JVo. 371. — La Barge rousse de Baie de Hudson, 
Buff, vii, 507. — Peale’s Museum, Xo. 40l9.t 
This is another transient visitant of our seacoasts in spring 
and autumn, to and from its breeding place in the north. Our 
gunners call it the Straight -hilled Curlew, and sometimes the 
Red Curlew.X It is a shy, cautious, and watchful bird; yet so 
strongly are they attached to each other, that on wounding one 
in a flock, the rest are immediately arrested in their flight, mak- 
ing so many circuits over the spot where it lies fluttering and 
screaming, that the sportsman often makes great destruction 
among them. Like the Curlew, they may also be enticed with- 
in shot, by imitating their call or whistle; hut can seldom be 
approached without some such manoeuvre. They are much less 
numerous than the Short-billed Curlews, with whom, however, 
they not unfrequently associate. They are found among the 
salt marshes in May, and for some time in June, and also on 
their return in October and November; at which last season 
they are usually fat, and in high esteem for the table. 
The female of this bird having been described by several 
writers as a distinct species from the male, it has been thought 
proper to figure the former; the chief difference consists in the 
* This bird belongs to the genus Limosa of Brisson. 
t Scotopax Fedoa, Linn. Syst. ed. 10, p. 14G, JVo. 8. S. hxmastka? Id. p. 147> 
.Yo. 14. — Edwards, pi. 137, 138. — Limosa rufa, Briss. v, p. 281, pi. 25, fig. 1. 
i It is better known under the name of Merline. 
