Birds of America
By John James Audubon, F. R. SS. L. & E.
VOLUME V.
GENUS V.--LIMOSA, Briss. GODWIT.
Bill very long, slender, sub-cylindrical, tapering to an obtuse point,
slightly recurved; upper mandible with the dorsal line slightly curved upwards,
the ridge convex, the sides with a narrow groove extending almost to the point,
the edges rather obtuse, the tip very slightly enlarged; lower mandible with the
angle very long and extremely narrow, the sides with a narrow groove extending
almost to the end, the edges blunt, the tip obtuse. Nostrils basal, linear,
nearer the edge. Head small, oblong; neck rather long, slender; body slender.
Feet long and slender; tibia bare for about a third, anteriorly scutellate;
tarsus long, slender, scutellate before and behind; toes small, slender,
scutellate above; anterior connected by webs at the base, first very small.
Claws small, compressed, slightly arched, obtuse. Plumage soft and blended.
Wings rather long, narrow, very acute; primaries tapering, the first longest,
the inner secondaries elongated. Tail short, even, of twelve narrow rounded
feathers.