THE BffiDS OF HAITI AND THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 155 



second and third weeks in February, and between Gaspar Hernandez 

 and the Kio San Juan on March 4, 1916. Abbott collected a female 

 on Saona Island, September 14, 1919. Danforth reports five at 

 Monte Cristi August 5, 1927. 



In Haiti Abbott secured a male at the fitang Saumatre on March 

 7, 1918. At Aquin, on April 3, 1927, Wetmore observed fifty or more 

 scattered over mudflats adjacent to a salt water lagoon, and others 

 along adjacent sandy beaches, basis for our statement that the species 

 is probably more common than the few records indicate. At Caracol 

 on April 27 a dozen were recorded. Danforth saw fifteen at Les 

 Salines July 30, 1927. They seem especially common along the north 

 coast of Haiti as Bond records them at Jacquesy and Fort Liberte, 

 collecting skins on April 28, 1928, and Poole and Perrygo in 1929 

 secured three on Muertos Island in the Seven Brothers group Jan- 

 uary 29 and February 2, and six at Fort Liberte February 9. 



On its wintering ground the turnstone is found ordinarily on mud 

 flats or muddy playas, always in the open, and ordinarily in little 

 flocks. It is also encountered on sandy beaches, but is then usually 

 in migration. It is unobtrusive and feeds quietly, often allowing 

 close approach, to flush when alarmed with a low whistle and fly with 

 rapid flight to another feeding ground. 



The turnstone is somewhat heavier in body than the killdeer but 

 is of about the same stature. The adult is white below, with the 

 chest and foreneck black, and the upper surface marked with black, 

 white and rusty brown. The lower back and upper tail coverts 

 are white, the rump is black, and there is a prominent white band 

 in the wings, so that the bird appears strikingly colored as it rises 

 in flight. In winter and immature dress the black of the chest is 

 restricted, and there is little rusty on the back. The wing measures 

 from 139 to 157 mm. 



Family SCOLOPACIDAE 59 



Subfamily Scolopacinae 



CAPELLA DELICATA (Ord) 

 WILSON'S SNIPE, BECASINA, BECASSE DES SAVANNES 



Soolopax delicata Ord, Reprint of Wilson's Ornithology, vol. 9, 1825, p. 

 ccxviii (Pennsylvania). 



59 Ritter, Naturh. Reis. Wcstind. Insel Hayti, 1836, p. 157, includes the red-backed 

 sandpiper (Pelidna alpina sakhalina) in his list, under the name Tringa cinclus, without 

 annotation as to where he found it. Abbott believes that he saw this sandpiper on Saona 

 Island, September 12 to 18, 1919, but did not secure specimens. The species is found 

 on mudbars, where it probes for food with its long bill. It has not been definitely 

 reported south of southern Florida. 



The species is one of moderate size being 200 mm. or a little more in length with the 

 upper parts brownish gray, middle upper tail coverts blackish, under parts whitish, the 

 breast indistinctly streaked with blackish. In breeding dress there is a large patch of 

 black on the abdomen that may be more or less indicated in birds in migration. The 

 bill is relatively long and slightly decurved at the tip. 



