78 Captain S. G. Reid on the 



about it in TenerifFe. The Lapwing undoubtedly visits the 

 island^ and Don R. Gomez has two examples in his museum, 

 obtained near Orotava. He also had a specimen of the 

 Ringed Plover {JEgialitis hiaticula), which he kindly gave to 

 me, and informed me that the bird is not uncommonly met 

 with along the shore. Viera appears to allude to it under 

 the name of " chorlito de collar." 



I did not come across the Turnstone_, Woodcock, or Snipe 

 during my stay. 



I saw a single Common Sandpiper [Tringoides hypoleucus) 

 on the shore near Orotava on the 5 th February, and this was 

 the only representative of the Scolopacidse I met with. Many 

 other species occur, however; for Don R. Gomez has local 

 specimens of the Curlew and the Redshank in his collection, 

 and Juan Baeza has recently sent me a Curlew, a RuiF (ik?a- 

 clietes pugnax), and a Curlew Sandpiper {Tringa subarquata) , 

 obtained by himself near Orotava. 



I was rather surprised at the absence of all species of 

 Cormorant from the very suitable coasts of Teneriffe near 

 Orotava, and equally surprised to find the Common Heron 

 {Ardea cinerea) in pairs on the rocks there. I imagine it must 

 breed in the cliffs, as it does in other parts of the world, but 

 I was unable to ascertain this for a fact, Viera 's Dictionary 

 contains a description of this bird as follows : — " Garza 

 {Ardea). A Avell-known bird, which is seen on the sea-shore 

 and by the pools in our islands, a visitor from the neigh- 

 bouring coasts of Africa ; they always appear in pairs.'* 

 He then gives an account of two other Herons, which he 

 calls "Garza cangrejera" (Cano'ophagus) and " Garzeta '^ 

 {Ardea alba minor). A specimen of the former, taken at the 

 lake (now drained) at Laguna, in Teneriffe, appears, from 

 his description, to have been a Squacco {A. ralloides), while 

 the latter, which he describes from an example obtained in 

 Gran Canaria, and speaks of as not uncommon, is probably 

 A. bubulcus, the Buff-backed Heron. I did not meet with 

 either, but Gomez has a local specimen of A. ralloides in his 

 museum. 



The Spoonbill {Platalea leucorodia) has occurred in Tene- 



