the Birds of Barbados. 493 



24th of August, 1888, and two others shot by Mr. Massiah 

 at Chancery Lane on the following day. I have seen several 

 other examples shot during 1888 at the latter place. 



-/- 40. MiCROPALAMA HIMANTOPUS (Bp.). CuC. 



Arrives with the Yellow-legs in July, and continues to pass 

 all through August, and generally into the middle of Sep- 

 tember, when the flights cease, but stragglers drop in at 

 intervals till October, This bird is easily attracted by the 

 imitation of its call-note, and the flocks are very compact, so 

 that at times many are brought down at one discharge of a 

 gun. They feed on the edges of freshwater swamps, and do 

 not alight on the dry meadows nor on the sea-beach. The 

 flights only remain on the island for a few hours. 



41. Ereunetes pusillus (Linn.). Grass Nit. 



Arrives in flocks along with Tringa minutilla and Tringa 

 fuscicoUis in the middle of July, and remains on the island 

 till the end of October. 



4.2. Tringa minutilla (Vieill.). Cockroach Nit. 



Arrives in flocks about the middle of July, remaining till 

 the end of October. I have frequently seen them flying in 

 companies of thirty or forty. They are most confiding little 

 birds, and alight almost at the feet of the gunners when 

 called by the whistle. They are considered delicate eating, 

 and sad havoc is at times made in their ranks by a discharge 

 of small shot. The note may be described as resembling 

 " crete-crete,'' frequently repeated. 



43. Tringa maculata (Vieill.). Chirp; October Chirp. 



The Pectoral Sandpiper commences to arrive in July and 

 August, increasing in its numbers till October, when they 

 usually appear in immense flights ; a few stragglers pass over 

 as late as the early part of November. This bird, on its 

 arrival in the island, frequents flooded and marshy spots, 

 where the grass is short, likewise feeding on the ploughed 

 lands. The Barbadian sportsmen, many of whom have the 

 most discriminating ear for the notes of the various migra- 

 tory birds, consider that there is a diff'erence between the 



