B L A C K -TAILED GOD W I T.
LIMOSA MELANUBA.
FROM the information 1 was enabled to gather while shooting and collecting in tin' marshlands of the
east of Norfolk, lids specie* a[i|iears to hare been scarce in the earlier days of even the oldest fennien.
Though these birds have long ceased to breed in this locality, I seldom passed the spring on Breydon
mudllats, or the broads about Bidding, without meeting with one or two specimens, stragglers evidently still
continuing to [KISS over and oecasionahy to alight for a short time about their old haunts at the season of
On referring to my notes for 1-71. I find that small parties of Black-tailed Godwin were seen regularly
for two or three days on the lulls of sonic or the Potter-Heigham mar-lies during the first week in May ;
the whole of these birds proved exceedingly nary, and in the end escaped without odering a chance of a
shut. Their shrill cries were sure to attract attention, little difficulty being experienced in ascertaining if
they were in the vicinity when once on wing. The (light of this species will readily lie recognized by those
who have previously met with opportunities for observing their actions; while circling over Ihe marshes
they usually keep al a considerable elevation, the movements of the wings appearing slow and regular. 1
have, however, watched them on more than one occasion dash down and swoop to the ground with almost
the same actions as the Snipe. A few days later (on the 11th of the month), when shooting on Breydon. an
exceedingly deeply coloured bird (evidently in full breeding-plumage) settled on the open flats at a safe
distance from any of the drains, and after remaining feeding for an hour or two, well out of range of even the
heaviest punt-gun, eventually took it- departure unmolested, living towards the north-east.
A remarkably large and light-coloured individual ip reliably a female) was noticed for a day or two from
the 10th of May, l*s:j, on the hills near llickling, my attention being first drawn to the bird by its loud
note, uttered at a great height while living over the broad.
Prom the entries in my journals it appears that, the number of Black-tailed Godwits passing in autumn
along the flats nf the south coast have greatly decreased during the last five-ami-twenty years. The small
muddy pool- in the marshes near the Nook at live were commonly in those days visited about tile middle of
Septeuilier by a few small parlies of immature birds; at this season they were usually eouliiliug, but little
difficult \ being experienced in procuring any specimen- required. On the liith and 17th of September, l-otl,
these birds, as well ns many other Waders, wore especially numerous about the pools near the Wiuchclsea
Watch-house, and several (all in immature plumage) were obtained. 1 remarked that this species resorted to
the more brackish parts of the marshes, and were seldom seen, in this locality, on the salt-water mud-banks
frequented by the Bar-tailed Godwits. I have repeatedly observed them, in coni|iatiy with Grecnshanks,
Bed-hanks, Dunlins, and Sandpipers, about the pools near Bye, and with Grecu and Wood-Sandpipers, as well
as all the previously mentioned species, in the Norfolk marshes ; though resting and feeding amicably
together, the partnership invariably dissolved when rising on wing. During the autumn of lbll and the