BIRDS OF CUBA 7^ 



125. Arenaria interpres morinella (Linne). 

 Turnstone. 



A few may be seen every winter on the seolian limestone reefs and 

 shores, and much more rarely about beaches. Gundlach thought that it 

 might nest in the cays, but in this case as with others he doubtless mistook 

 early returning migrants for summer residents. 



126. Haematopus palliatus palliatus Temminck. 

 Oyster-catch ER. 



Very rare and shy. Found usually in small family groups. Seen only 

 on the most retired coasts or among the cays. It may nest in Cuba, and 

 probably does so. Gundlach once saw it in June. 



127. Jacana spinosa violacea (Cory). 

 Gallito. 



To the Northern bird lover who visits Cuba for the first time no bird 

 is at once so engaging and so wholly satisfactory, for it crystalizes imme- 

 diately the certainty that here at last is one common and conspicuous 

 creature wholly foreign to his ken. Cuba swarms in winter, the visitors 

 season, with Northern migrants, and many of the characteristic, peculiar 

 and purely tropical birds are shy and retiring and are never seen by the 

 casual traveller. The gaudy little Gallito, however, frequents every small 

 roadside pond, and even comes to flooded pastures, which offer a suitable 

 but temporary abiding place only after heavy rains. The Ja?anas run 

 about the shores and over the lily pads, ever on the move. They chase 

 each other and appear constantly pugnacious, and every few minutes 

 they rise for short flights which show the brilliant golden yellow of their 

 wings. When they alight they stand a second with wings upraised alter 

 the fashion of the Upland Plover. In the smaller ponds it is unusual to 



