Migratory Birds in British Guiana. 271 



Wilson's Plover (^. ivilsonia) , is very similar in general 

 colouring and markings to the Small Ring Plover, except 

 that the rufous tints are barely represented. It is, how- 

 ever, easily distinguished from the two preceding by its 

 greater size — length 7^ inches — and by its long and 

 thick, black bill, which is as long as the head, and much 

 swollen towards the tip. Several distindlive chara6lers 

 have caused its reference to a separate genus of its own, 

 Ochthodromus, under which it will now-a-days be found. 



This species does not appear to be a common migrant 

 here, though no doubt it may have often been confounded 

 with Holopterus cayanus, the Spur-wing Plover. This 

 latter species is much more commonly met with on the 

 coast in the winter months, though it remains with us 

 throughout the year, being especially abundant along 

 the interior streams. Its plumage is much more marked 

 with black than the Ringed Plovers, its size is greater, 

 and the wings are furnished with a sharp spur. The 

 American Peewit or Lapwing which is closely allied 

 to the preceding, is also a constant resident with us. 



The greater number of our migrants, to which reference 

 will now be briefly made, belong to the family of the 

 snipes, though indeed our true snipes are constant resi- 

 dents. They will readily be recognised by their long 

 and thin beaks, which are slightly obtuse at the tip. 



Perhaps the commonest of these is the Big-yellow- 

 shanks (Totanus melanoleucus) , known locally as the 

 Pica Plover. This species will readily be recognised by 

 its large size (14 inches in length), its bright yellow legs, 

 and its long, thin and black beak, which is more than two 

 inches in length. The upper surface is a mottled brown, 

 black and grey, and the under surface grey and white. 



MM 



