327 
of the United States . 
Female larger ; colors somewhat duller. Young hardly 
differing from the adult in winter plumage. Moult twice in 
the year, changing greatly their plumage, the female later 
than the male, hence said to differ. Larger than the allied 
genera, except Numenius. 
Timid, melancholy, shy, suspicious, watchful. Migrate 
according to season. Live in docks, keeping constantly in 
moist grounds, morasses near water, preferring salt marshes, 
rarely found far from the sea ; affecting muddy places above 
all things. Chiefly nocturnal, hiding and keeping quiet 
during day-time among grasses, reeds, and going out in the 
morning and evening only. Feeding at twilight and by 
moonshine on insects, he. which they seek in the softest mud: 
thrust their bill into it continually in search of small ani- 
mals and vegetables. Sight weak and short, supplied by 
their exquisitely sensible bill, which being furnished with 
nerves to the tip, is capable of tasting whatever it seizes. 
Like the gallinaceous birds, assist digestion by taking sand and 
small stones into their gizzard for trituration. Breed socially 
in damp meadows ; lay on the ground among grass, bushes. 
Voice hoarse, shrill, compared to that of a goat. Escaping 
rapidly among reeds and swampy grounds when perceived. 
Spread all over the cold and temperate regions of the globe. 
Formed of but three well established species, two of which 
are found in Europe, and two also in the United States. 
More closely allied to Tetanus by its European subgenus 
Glottis, Nob. 
265. Limosa ^gocephala, Nob. Bill straightish; rump and 
tail black ; base of the quills and tail feathers white ; middle 
nail long, serrated. 
Summer plumage, black varied with rufous ; beneath ru- 
fous, varied with blackish : winter, ashy-brown, beneath white- 
ish ; tail tipped with white. 
Black-tailed Godwit , Limosa cegocephala , Nob . Am. Orn, 
