286 HUDSONIAN CURLEW.
Length to end of tail 19 inches, to end of wings 18, to end of claws 21;
wing from flexure 9?; tail 4; extent of wings 33 ; bill along the back 4£,
along the edge of lower mandible 4^; tarsus middle toe 1T
5
2 , its
claw 3^1. Weight 1 lb. 1± oz.
The Female resembles the male.
The bill varies greatly in length: in a specimen now before me, it is
in another 2 ^ , while in the individual figured it was 4£.
( 287 )
THE GREAT MARBLED GODWIT.
LIMOSA FEDOA, VIEILL.
PLATE CCXXXVIII. MALE AND FEMALE.
THIS fine bird is found during winter on all the large muddy flats of
the coast of Florida that are intermixed with beds of racoon oysters. As
the tide rises it approaches the shores, and betakes itself to the wet savannahs.
At this season it is generally seen in flocks of five or six, searching
for food in company with the Tell-tale, the Yellow-shanks, the Long-billed
Curlew, and the White Ibis. While feeding, it probes the mud and wet
sand, often plunging its bill to its whole length, in the manner of the
Common Snipe'and the Woodcock. It is fond of the small crabs called fiddlers,
many of which it obtains both by probing their burrows, and running
after them along the edges of the salt meadows and marshes. Sometimes
you see it wading in the water up to its body, and when about to
lose ground, it rises and extends its wings, still continuing to search for
fry, until forced to fly off by the increased depth of the water, when it
alights on the shore and recommences its operations. While feeding on
the banks, it appears to search for food between and under the oysters with
singular care, at times pushing the bill sidewise into the soft mud beneath
the shells. Towards the middle of the day, the separate flocks come together,
assembling on some large sand-bar, where they remain for hours,
trimming their plumage, after which .many of them continue some time
motionless, standing on one leg. Suddenly, however, they are all seen to
stretch their wings upwards, their bleating notes are heard, and the next
moment the flock rises, and disperses in small parties, each of which proceeds
in a different direction in search of food.
Few birds are more shy or vigilant than the Great Marbled Godwit.
It watches the movements of the gunner with extreme care, particularly
while in small flocks, in which case it rarely happens that one can approach
them, and they are more commonly shot by coming unawares over
the concealed sportsman. When in large flocks I have known them to
be neared, and killed in great numbers. On such occasions, they walk
towards each other, until they are quite close, when they stand still. Then
is the time for the gunner, who has driven them before him as it were, to