Lpgf f iSA M g ( A ] S r ^ 0 lDES, Gould.
Black-tailed Godwit.
Limosa Melanwroides, Gould in Proc.
. Mun-doorS-git, A||m|^ej3- of Port Essington.
My collection;cftntai^^|^o specimens, male aiid:fenT:ale,^^^^^p plumage, of this species, which at the first
^ ^p® mjgh t readily^e%in i^ fe^ ? fo r specimens o f the b ird ; on lio wever >the Australian
species is found to be o f a m u cK n i| jj& s iz e than the European, and to exhibit other differences, which
although hut slight, fully satisfy me that i t is distinct: it is one o f the many novelties which rewarded
Mr. Gilbert’s researches i n : t l S ^ ^ ^ ^ f t ^ # Port JEs^g^on, and who s ta te s^ a t it inhabits shallow
§|||y^swamps a n d ? f y k and t h a t J h T ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ K n tolerabl^Wge flocks ; | i | J k o adds that x g
stomach was foodT coi^^g^ o f aquatic in se ctsof various'hinds.
In its habits, actioh^and general^(;on^;y;it_doub,tless closely resen^h^ its European ally,frapd^in all
IpfIhEhiiify undergoes similar changes. < ^ ^ ^ ^fe|^ |&d u ll colouring qfe^ntef giviug place to a rich rufous
tint in summer.
The vrinter dress may be thus described : - g g S j
/ ] I , rtd and e i> v i ^ ^ w n ^ t h i -.mill .tri d> » y™ * k dcmn the centre o f the
feathers ; wings dark brown i s ^ s w h i t e 5 f e e of tjjs’pijnrarif uid * < mw.f a3% .u d tips ot die greater
\ Hurts vvlurf. tunning 1 banibwhi n tiu win* i- 1 spapd< d , nppi r-Uil-invt'its ^ilte■ «filrnyng 1 ( oiispu nous
S a 'r fe j^ a il b la c^ ^ th theV|K!gtion 'o f the two lateral fe Sln-rs on yhitiQ^jbe bafce
and black H H H H 1 i| | s t and:flanks gre; isb blown ^ t e . ^ n d M ^ ^ ^ o i e r p . white irides
brown; bill grjgnish g n y t jjgiW n ffipaV r on jl iJ sides^t th ^ p B c r iiiVidible'rlegS aiid feet greenish grey.
Tfie g gu v e flsp c ff t>e f e d ?*1