1886.] PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 629 



68. Numenius hudsonicus (Latli.). Large Curlew. 

 A rare migrant. 



69. Numenius borealis (Forst.). Curlew. 

 Several along with the plovers. 



[Not before noted from the Lesser Antilles. — G. N. K] 



Family EALLID^. 



70. Porzana Carolina (Linn.). Sora Eail. 



9 Length, 8| inches; expanse, 12§ inches; wing, 4J inches. 



A familiar object about the swamps is this lively little bird, where it 

 may be observed running along on the leaves of the water lilies and 

 flicking lip its short tail all the while. Found it numerous at Isle de 

 Ehonde in January. On the 25th February, 1883, one was caught alive 

 at Mount Parnassus, in a trap set for ground doves and baited with 

 Indian corn. I have not yet procured its eggs or observed its nest. 



71. lonornis martinica (Linn.). Kascamiol; Purple Gallinule. 



This bird is rather abundant on the little islands between this and 

 Oarriacou, where it is often taken alive in " fish pots " baited with com. 

 On one island (Mabouya) the people who cultivate it destroy numbers 

 of the eggs of this bird every year, as they state that the bird destroys 

 their growing crops of Indian corn. I have kept a pair of live ones for 

 more than two years. A pair has just been taken away to England by 

 a gentleman who intends to present them to the Zoological Society there. 



72. Gallinula galeata (Licht.). Eed-head Water Fowl. 



9 Length, 14^ inches; expanse, 23 inches; wing, 6f inches. 

 Abundant ; frequents all the swamps ; occasionally found on the 

 streams inland ; numerous at Lake Antoine and at Isle de Ehonde, 

 though I have not observed it at the Grand Etang ; builds a large flat 

 nest among the rushes, the bottom of the nest generally resting on the 

 water ; found nest with four eggs at Telescope Swamp. 



73. Fulica americana, Gm. Coot. Poule d'Eau. 



? Length, 16^ inches; ex]»anse, 26 inches; wing, 7^ inches. 



Found on the Grand Etang or mountain lake, Lake Antoine, and all 

 the large swamps; also numerous at the fresh-water pond at Tsle de 

 Ehonde; they afford fine shooting, though difficult to retrieve if 

 wounded, as they dive and swim under water very fast. They may 

 often be seen swimming with a large brood of young, which all dive on 

 the least alarm and rise again at a considerable distance ; they will 

 continue to dive and rise until the rushes at the side are gained, when 

 they secrete themselves. Occasionally the adult birds will fly along the 

 surface of the water, the end of the wings touching the water and leav- 

 ing a clear "wake" behind them. They nest on the borders of the 

 swamps, &c. 



