8 
SHORE BIRDS. 
Breeds in this latitude and even much further South. They 
are scattered over the Western States down to the Gulf of 
Mexico and the West India Islands, where many of them pass 
the winter. They go on to the marshes at high tide, but feed 
along the edge of the water on minnows, crabs and marine 
insects. More of an inland bird, frequenting wet places on 
the prairies and around pond holes. Not regarded of much 
value for food. Occasionally we shall see marbled godwit 
(Limosa fedoa, Ord.) strolling about on the sand or mud flats, 
plunging their long, stout bills in up to their eyes in search 
of small worms that are teeming there in great variety. It 
is alleged that they devour small fish and fiddler crabs. 
They do not go on to upland fields, but at high tide retire 
with their congeners to the sand dunes. Abundant in the 
neighborhood of Oregon Inlet, and further West in summer. 
Quiet in their manners, not flying about as much as some of 
the other waders. Were formerly quite plentiful in New 
England, but for the last decade have been scarce. The 
other godwit (Limosa Hudsonica, Swain.), better known here 
as “spot rump,” is very rare in spring ; has much the same 
manner and habits as the preceding, but is more likely to be 
caught out in an easterly storm, and driven on to our coast 
with golden plover; then his stalwart relative, L. fedoa , 
which would seem to indicate an Eastern or Atlantic route 
for their Southern migrations. 
The vernal season will scarcely bring us acquaintance with 
sickle-billed curlew (Numenius longirostris, Wils.,) though 
a straggler may occasionally be seen. These birds hardly ! 
go as far east as the Magdalen Islands or Labrador, come on 
to our coast in small flocks in - the fall, and linger about the 
high beaches, dry marshes, and along the wind-rows of sea¬ 
weed which have been washed up by the tide, where they 
gormandize on black crickets and flies which they are very 
expert in capturing. They are said to roost at night on these 
heaps of seaweed. They sometimes betake themselves to 
the sand flats where they occasionally indulge in a stray min¬ 
now, paltry crab, or juvenile insect. Well distributed over 
the continent, they are believed to breed as far south as 
