They stay but a short time with us, and by the beginning of October the last of them has gone and their ringing “tui-tui” no longer enlivens the shore. In April they will return, but they are then anxious to reach their summer home, and brief as is their passage in autumn it is still shorter in spring, and if we wish to see them then it must be at their home in Scotland or farther north. In summer the back is nearly black, each feather being margined with white; rump white; head white streaked with dark brown. Under parts white with a few blackish streaks on the throat and upper breast. In winter the back is greyer and the under parts are pure white. The sexes are alike. The young are browner on the back, and have buffish margins to the feathers. Length 14 in.; wing 7·25 in. THE RED-BREASTED SNIPE Macrorhamphus griseus (J. F. Gmelin) Some half-dozen examples of this American species have been met with in England, all of them during the autumn months. At this time of year, except in size, it resembles a Dunlin; but in spring the under parts are chestnut, spotted on the breast, and barred on the flanks with dark brown. The feathers of the back are black, edged and barred with rufous. Rump and upper tail coverts white barred with black. The shaft of the outermost primary is pure white. Length 10 in.; wing 5·5 in. THE BAR-TAILED GODWIT Limosa lapponica (Linnæus) On migration this species visits us in fair numbers, being found on low sandy shores and sheltered estuaries. A few remain throughout the winter, but by far the larger number pass on to Africa after a short sojourn. In May there is a return migration, especially along the east coast, the birds being then in full nuptial plumage. It breeds in the northern portions of Europe, and in winter it is found throughout Southern Europe as well as in Africa. The note is a loud “louey, louey.” In autumn the sexes are alike, and the general colour is brownish grey above and white below. The tail feathers are brown with no bars, but the tail coverts are barred at all seasons. The young have a shorter beak than the adults, and are brown chequered with buffish above and dull buff below. The tail feathers are broadly barred. In spring the male has the back blackish with tawny markings, the head and neck chestnut with dark streaks. Whole of the under parts deep chestnut, the sides of the breast spotted with brownish black. Rump white. Tail whitish with brown bars. Length 15·5 in.; bill 2·25 in.; wing 8 in. The female is much larger and has very little of the ruddy tint. THE BLACK-TAILED GODWIT Limosa belgica (J. F. Gmelin)