7. Limosa hudsonica. Hudsonian Godwit. — A female was shot 
by Mr. Tileston on Cape Cod, November 2, 1878 ; alto late in the season 
for this species. — T. M. Brewer, Boston, Mass. 
Bails N 8 0,0. 4, Jan, 1879, p <• V ■ 
Birds of Bristol County, Mass. 
F. W. Andros. 
Limosa htemastica (Linn.) Hudsonian God- 
wit. Migrant, rare. Exceptional cases noted. 
O.&O. XII. Sept. 1887 p. 138 
I 
vals until the last of October. They are more 
often seen from the 25th of September to the 
10th of October. They are usually seen after a 
heavy south-easterly storm and for this reason 
are quite irregular in appearance. They fre- 
quent the sand flats, low beaches and marshes, 
after the manner of the Curlews. I am told by 
old gunners that they were at one time very 
common on the Cape. 
Ot&O. XIII, Sept. 1888 p. 130 
Early August, 3, Chatham (two different days). 
Aug. 15, flock of 10 lit off blind out of range. Were watched for some 
time with glasses. 
Aug. 26, 2, Chatham. 
Last week of August, 4 (2 more seen), Chatham (three different days). 
Last week of August, 1, Plymouth. 
Sept. 1, 1, Chatham. 
Sept. 2, 1, Plymouth. 
Sept. 5, 4, Chatham (flock of 30-35 birds). 
Sept. 5, 1, West Dennis. 
Sept. 6, 1, Yarmouthport. 
Sept. 12, 2, Chatham. 
Sept. 13, 1, East Sandwich. 
Sept. 22, 1, Chatham. 
Sept. 24, 1, Chatham. 
Oct. 19, 1, Welfleet ) f oun( j Quincy market, Boston. 
Oct. 22, 1, Welfleet ) 
In most cases they were lone birds and, contrary to their habits, were 
tame and decoyed readily. However, on September 5, during a heavy 
easterly storm with a downpour of rain, a flock of 30-35 birds went over 
our stand at Chatham. Instead of alighting, as we supposed they would 
do, for they appeared very much exhausted, they continued their slow 
flight and disappeared going due south in the heaviest part of the storm. 
However, a man a short way below us shot three of these birds as we 
watched them go over him high up, and later we found someone else above 
us had shot one from the same flock only a minute or two earlier. One of 
these men estimated that the flock contained over 40 birds, so my figures 
may be too low or else, after he fired the birds may have separated so that 
we might have seen only part of the original flock. 
I believe Hudsonian Godwit are now rarely seen on the Atlantic coast in 
such numbers. In August, 1907, a similar flock was seen at Ipswich, out 
of which several birds were shot, and the gunners there considered such a 
flock of rare occurrence. Another gunner at Chatham reported having 
seen a flock of from 50—75 large birds, which from his description probably 
were Godwit, as he is well acquainted with all the other common shore 
birds. On inquiring of the M. Abbot Frazar Co., I found but two specimens 
in their shop being mounted. Mr. F. A. Webster of Hyde Park wrote me 
that but one bird had been sent to him. He said someone reported having 
seen a flock of birds at Winthrop, evidently Godwit, and that someone else 
had shot two which had been eaten. These are the only reports I was able 
to collect besides the actual records of those shot. Mr. T. C. Wilson of 
Ipswich writes that he had shot none and to his knowledge none had been 
seen there this year. Of the specimens I saw the majority were adult 
birds with distinct traces of their nuptial plumage. Unquestionably there 
was an unusually large flight of these birds during the early fall. ■ 
S. Prescott Fay, Boston, Mass. 
Auk 28. Apr *1011 P* 
