92 
LIMOSA FEDOA, 
GENUS LI l. — LIMOSA, Brisson. 
232 . LIMOSA F EDO Ay YIKILL. — SCOLOPAX FEDOA , WILSON. 
GREAT MARBLED GODWIT. 
WILSON, PLATE LVI. FIG IY. FEMALE. 
This bird is a transient visitant of our sea coasts 
in spring 1 and autumn, to and from its breeding place 
in the north. Our gunners call it the straight-billed 
curlew, and sometimes the red curlew. 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, 
making 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 within shot, by imitating their 
call or whistle ; but 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 Novem- 
ber ; at which last season they are usually fat, and in 
high esteem for the table. 
The female of this bird has been described by 
several writers as a distinct species from the male ; the 
chief difference consists in the undulating bars of black 
with which the breast of the male is marked, and 
which are wanting in the female. 
The male of the great marbled god wit is nineteen 
inches long, and thirty-four inches in extent ; the bill 
is nearly six inches in length, a little turned up towards 
the extremity, where it is black, the base is of a pale 
purplish flesh colour ; chin and upper part of the throat, 
whitish ; head and neck, mottled with dusky brown 
and black on a ferruginous ground ; breast, barred with 
wavy lines of black ; back and scapulars black ; marbled 
