the Birds of Barbados. 499 



has become very wary. I found the breeding-season to be 

 in May, June, and July. 



"^62. To RZANA CAROLINA (Linn.). Two-penny Chick. 



Though this Rail now-a-days goes by the name of Two- 

 penny Chick, the bird described by Hughes (1750) under 

 the same appellation was undoubtedly a Grebe. This 

 Rail is a regular visitor to Barbados during the months of 

 October and November. When flushed from a swamp and 

 driven to seek refuge in a dry place, it has a habit of running 

 into holes or poking its head under cover, and in this situa- 

 tion I have seen it captured by hand. 



63. Gallinula galeata (Licht.). Red-seal Coot. 



Resident. A few still lingered at Grseme-Hall swamp in 

 1888, from whence I obtained a nest with seven eggs in the 

 month of July, when I fully identified the bird. It used to 

 be plentiful at several spots in the island, particularly so at 

 Valentia swamp and at a pond on the Three-Houses estate, 

 but it has been exterminated, I think, in those places. 



-f 64. loNORNis martinica (Linn.). 



This Purple Gallinule must be a rare and accidental visitor. 

 I have a specimen shot by Dr. Manning in the autumn of 

 1887, and Lieutenant Venour, of The West-India Regiment, 

 informed me that he saw another captured in the same month 

 and year by some boys with a dog, in the swamp below 

 St. Ann's Fort. 



-f 65. FuLicA AMERICANA, Gmel. White-seal Coot. 



Resident. A few still lingered at Graeme-Hall swamp as 

 late as 1888, whence I procured an example in August. 

 I am afraid it was one of the last of its race. Mr. A. M. 

 McLean told me that twenty-five years ago he could re- 

 member both the Waterhen and Coot being abundant in the 

 swamp. Mr. Spencer, the owner at that time, would not 

 allow them to be molested, and it was no uncommon occur- 

 rence to see twenty or thirty of both species swimming 

 together on the open-water spaces in the swamp. The cut- 

 ting down of the bush around Valentia swamp a few years 



