KILDEER PLOVER. 333 



peated efforts to jump over the skirting-board, which 

 being black, and the wall white, I suppose it mis- 

 took the latter for empty space. While doing 

 this, it ever and anon emitted its loud pipe with 

 startling shrillness. Having run into a corner, it 

 allowed me to take it up in my hand without flut- 

 tering. When it stood, it jerked its head up and 

 down. It was exceedingly active, when not lying 

 close for concealment ; it was not still a moment ; 

 besides the flirting of the head and tail, a tremulous 

 motion pervaded the body, so that it seemed tojbe 

 shivering. When about to take a single step, this 

 was manifested in an odd manner ; the foot touching 

 the ground three or four times before it was put 

 down. When it had become more at home, it 

 devoured earthworms greedily, and would pick 

 minute shells and entomostraca from a saucer of 

 water, in which was a root of water- cress. In the 

 cage it delighted to stand in its water-saucer, but 

 when loose, the saucer being placed in one corner, 

 it would run rapidly in and out, now and then 

 stopping to pick at the contents. 



My own acquaintance with the Grallatorial and 

 Natatorial visitants of Jamaica is but slight. On 

 the authority of Mr. Hill, I add to the Charadriadce 

 above mentioned, the Ring Plover {^gialites semi- 

 palmatus)^ the Golden Plover ( Charadrius Virgi- 

 niacus), the Squatting Plover {Squatarola Helvetica), 

 and the Turnstone {Strepsilas interpres). 



