Animals: Esteemed Godwit

New Jersey’s Assemblymen were puzzled by a bill introduced last month permitting use of the bow & arrow in hunting brant, gallinules, coots, dowitchers, turn-stones, godwits, tattlers, certain other more common game birds and animals. Blind, rosy-cheeked Assemblyman Thomas M. Muir of Plainfield asked Assemblywoman Constance W. Hand, sponsor of the bill: “What is a godwit?” Mrs. Hand: “I’m sure I don’t know what godwits are.” Assembly Speaker Herbert J. Pascoe, from the chair: “They come from North Plainfield.” Assemblymen looked the godwit up, found it is a long-legged, long-billed wading bird “much esteemed for the table.” The bill was overwhelmingly passed by the Assembly last week after Mrs. Hand, in despair, said: “I’m sure it’s a good bill.” But in fact it was a no-good bill, for Federal game laws had already specifically prohibited godwit hunting.