498 Col. H. W. Feilden on 



tained, however^ several examples during the autumn of 

 1888. 



^ 58. NuMENius BOREALis (Forst.). Chittering Curlew. 



Arrives about the end of August, but passes more fre- 

 quently in September. The first I obtained in 1888 was on 

 the 5th of September^ when immense numbers passed over 

 the island, though comparatively few alighted. The same 

 day great flights of Golden Plover {Charadrius dominicm) and 

 Longlegs [Totanus flavipes) arrived; I saw over a hundred 

 of each of these species shot at one stand by a single gun. 



Obs. I did not observe N. longirostris , nor does it appear 

 to be known to the sportsmen of Barbados, who would at 

 once recognize it^ if it occurred, by its great length of bill. 



l^ 59. Ardea herodias, Linn. Grey Gaulding, 



This fine species is a regular autumn visitor, arriving in 

 October and November in parties, sometimes consisting of from 

 ten to twelve individuals. I shot a fine example at Chancery 

 Lane on the 24tli of October, 1888 ; the outspread wings 

 measured seventy inches from tip to tip. Dr. Manning, 

 Mr. B. H. Belgrave, and other gentlemen sent me specimens 

 during the autumn of 1888. 



60. Ardea egretta, Gmel. White Gaulding. 



A rare visitor. I procured one at Graeme-Hall swamp 

 on the 4th of July, 1888, an adult female, in beautiful plu- 

 mage. It was alone at the time. 



-^ 61. Ardea virescens, Linn. Gaulding. 



E-esident, and tolerably abundant in those places where 

 any protection is afibrded. In the beautiful grounds of 

 Codrington College it breeds freely, nesting on tall trees ; it 

 is there quite fearless, and the old birds come down from 

 their nests to the ornamental water in front of the building. 

 The nest is a frail structure gf twigs; the number of eggs 

 two or three, of a pale green colour. This species is com- 

 mon atValentia swamp, where I have disturbed as many as 

 a dozen from a single tree at one time ; but in most parts of 

 the island it is persecuted at all seasons, and consequently 



