BIRDS OF THE SHORES AND RIVER MARGINS 
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or rivers, also the seashore, and is often in the company of other Waders. 
It is exceptionally wary and by no means plentiful. Food: small crusta¬ 
ceans and worms. 
Nest. —A depression in the grass. 
Eggs. —Four, deep greenish drab to pale drab, covered with irregular 
blotches and spots of pale umber-brown. Breeding-season : June and July 
(northern Europe and northern Asia). 
24. Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa Linne 
lim-os-a— L., limosus, marshy. 
Distribution. —Northern Europe and northern Asia, migrating south¬ 
wards to northern Africa, India, Australia, and Tasmania; accidental to 
New Zealand. 
Notes. —Usually singly, in pairs, or very small flocks, arriving in 
Australia during October, departing in March or April. It frequents 
chiefly mud and sand-flats near the entrance of inlets or rivers and the 
margins of shallow salt marshes; it is generally in the company of the 
Bar-tailed Godwit—a species very similar to its black-tailed relative. The 
latter, however, has a more upright carriage, longer legs, and white lower 
rump. In habits and economy it resembles the Bar-tailed Godwit, but is 
much rarer than that species. 
Nest. —A depression in the grass. 
Eggs. —Four, pale olive-green to pale yellowish, covered all over with 
small spots of a more or less olive-brown, some markings on the larger 
end being of an indistinct olive-grey to reddish-grey. Breeding-season: 
June? and July (northern Europe and northern Asia). 
25. Curlew Numenius cyanopiis Vieillot 
Nu-meri-i-us —Gk, nmnenios, kind of curlew, from Gk, neos , new; Gk, 
none, moon (i.e., shape of bill) : cy-an-o-pus —Gk, cyanos , blue; Gk, opsis, 
appearance. 
Distribution. —Eastern Siberia, migrating southwards to Australia 
and Tasmania; accidental to New Zealand. 
Notes. —Also called Sea-curlew, Australian Curlew, and Curlew- 
whelp. Usually in flocks, arriving in Australia during September, depart¬ 
ing in March or April; odd birds, however, remain throughout the year. 
It frequents sea beaches or mud and sand-flats near the entrance of inlets 
and rivers. At all times it is exceptionally timid and wary, generally 
keeping far out on the flats or beaches. Its call resembles “Ker-loo,” 
or “Kor-lew/’ and is often uttered at night or when alarmed. Food: 
small crustaceans and worms. 
Nest. —A hollow scooped in the ground, untidily lined with grass 
or leaves, and placed among low bushes or rushes; generally high, open 
ground is selected as a nesting-site. 
Eggs. Four, dull olive-green, blotched and spotted with greenish- 
brown markings. Breeding-season: June and July (eastern Siberia). 
