§0 THE NATURAL HISTORY 
ae when they defcend, they dart down with amazing 
{wiftnefs. 
Godwits are another fpecies of the Scolopax, 
Their bodies are in the fame form as that of 
the Woodcock, but their legs are longer, and the| 
bill is of a-greater length, although nearly of the 
fame form: it is ftraight, or flightly bending up. 
wards, the point is blunt: they live upon worms, | 
which they take out of the mud. Their voice js. 
very uncommon, a little like the cry of a goat} 
partly ftifled. Godwits are very reftlefs, anf} 
rife when the fowler is at a diftance, and {cream 
through fear. 
They are feen in numbers in falt marfhes, ge. | 
nerally near the fea-fhore. ‘They make their ap. 
pearance here and in France about the month di). 
September ; they may be feen in flocks, very high 
in-the air, by moon-light; and they make a noi 
as they pafs along. : 
They alight fometimes in marfhes, and are 
tired that they do not like to begin to fly again! , 
they take to their wings with fome difficulty, Y 
they run very faft like Partridges, yet the fowl) 
overtakes them, and drives fo many together, tha 
he kills feveral with one fhot. 



