BRITISH BIRDS. 
77 
OF THE GODWIT 
Buffon enumerates eight fpecies of this divifion 
of the Scolopax genus, under the name of Barges, 
including the foreign lands ; and Latham makes 
out the fame number of different forts, all Britifli. 
They are a timid, fhy, and folitary tribe; their 
mode of fubfiflence conflrains them to fpend their 
lives amidfl the fens, fearching for their food in 
the mud and wet foil, where they remain during 
the day, fliaded and hidden among reeds and rufhes, 
in that obfcurity which their timidity makes them 
prefer. They feldom remain above a day or two 
in the fame place, and it often happens that in the 
morning not one is to be found in thofe marfhes 
where they were numerous the evening before. 
They remove in a flock in the night, and, when 
there is moonlight, may be feen and heard paffing 
at a vafl height. Their bills are long and flender, 
and, like the common Snipe’s, are fmooth and blunt 
at the tip : their legs are of various colours, and 
long. When purfued by the fportfman, they run 
with great fpeed, are very reftlefs, fpring at a great 
diftance, and make a fcream as they rife. Their 
voice is fomewhat extraordinary, and has been com- 
pared to the fmothered bleating of a goat. They 
delight in fait marfhes, and are rare in countries 
remote from the fea. Their flelh is delicate and 
excellent food. 
