88 
BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA 
Genus LIMOSA Beisson. 
Limosa fedoa (Linn.). 
Marbled Godwit. 
Description. 
“ Bill lengthened, * * * slender, and curving gently upwards ; grooved to near 
tip ; the tip not attenuated, but pointed ; the lower almost as long as the upper. Cul- 
men without any furrow. * * * A short basal membrane between the middle 
and outer toes ; hind toe lengthened ; tail short, even. 
“ ftp. ch.— Bill long, curved upwards ; both mandibles grooved ; wings long * * * 
legs long ; tibia with its lower half naked ; toes rather short. * * * Entire upper 
parts variegated with brownish-black and pale reddish, the former disposed in ir¬ 
regular and confluent bands, and the latter in spots and imperfect bands ; in many 
specimens the black color predominating on the back, and the pale red. on the rump 
and upper tail-coverts. Under parts pale rufous, with transverse lines of brownish- 
black on breasts and sides ; under wing-coverts and axillars darker rufous * * * 
tail, light rufous, with transverse bars of brownish-black. Bill pale yellowish, red 
at base ; brownish-black at end ; legs ashy black. Length about 18 inches ; bill 4 to 
5; tarsus 3.”— B. B. of N. A. 
Habitat .—North America; breeding in the interior (Missouri region and north¬ 
ward), migrating in winter southward to Central America and Cuba. 
The Marbled Godwit, or Marlin, is a rare and irregular spring- and 
fall migrant in Pennsylvania. Mr. George B. Sennett informs me 
stragglers are occasionally taken in Crawford and Erie counties. A few 
specimens have also been captured in recent years in Lancaster, Phila¬ 
delphia and Delaware counties. 
Note. —The Hudsonian Godwit ( Limosa hcemastica Linn.) is said to 
have been captured many years ago near Philadelphia by the late John 
Krider. I have never met with this bird in Pennsylvania. None of the 
naturalists or collectors whose lists of birds of Pennsylvania are before 
me make any reference to it. 
Genus TOTANUS Bechstein. 
Totanus melanoleucus (Gmel.). 
Greater Yellow-legs : Greater Tell-tale; Greater Yellow-shanks. 
Description {Plate 81). 
IJill long, slender, and with deep grooves in front of nostrils; tibke mostly bare ; the 
long and slender legs are yellow ; bill and claws black ; iris brown ; the short and 
rounded tail is blackish with numerous transverse white bars ; upper tail coverts 
white with few brownish bars ; upper parts generally brownish-black (ashy on back 
of neck) with numerous white spots or edging on feathers ; chin, upper throat, lower 
part of breast, abdomen, most of sides and under tail coverts white ; lower neck in 
front and upper breast grayish-brown, with many dusky streaks. Length, bill to 
end of tail about 14 inches ; extent about 25 ; bill about 2| inches, never under 2. 
Habitat. —America in general, breeding in the cold temperate and subarctic por¬ 
tions of North America, and migrating south to Chili and Buenos Ayres. 
