Migratory Birds in British Guiana. 273 



which is known under a variety of common names in the 

 different localities which it frequents, such as Grey 

 Plover, Grass or Field Plover, and even Prairie Pigeon. 



The colouring throughout is much brighter and more 

 glossy than in the two preceding species, and partakes 

 largely of yellowish and reddish brown, deeply banded, 

 becoming of a marked arrow-headed shape on the lower 

 breast and sides — a chara6ler by which the species will 

 readily be recognised. The legs are of a deep yellowish 

 green, and the beak is yellowish at the base, darkening 

 to the tip, its length being somewhat less than in the 

 small Yellow-shanks, though exceeding one inch. 



The species occurs exceptionally as a wanderer to the 

 British Isles, and on the continent of Europe, where 

 authenticated specimens have been killed. Here in the 

 colony, it is a common migrant with the other forms, 

 though many more seem to frequent the interior highlands 

 than in the other cases, and remain as stragglers through- 

 out the winter months. It is known to breed as far north 

 as the Ar6lic circle, and to range southward in its migra- 

 tion as far as Buenos Ayres. 



A very curious and distinct form, which is certainly 

 a migrant in the United States, and one that is by no 

 means a common resident, or an obtrusive migrant here 

 is the Black-necked Stilt, familiarly known also as Red- 

 legs or Longshanks (Himantopus nigricollis). This 

 bird is to be found here at all times of the year, but more 

 especially at the beginning of the drying off of the water 

 of the heavy wet season, when they may occasionally be 

 met with in pairs on the grassy lands of the coast or on 

 the mudflats. 



The species will readily be recognised by the very 

 MM 2 



