280 PRiECOCIAL GRALLATORES — LIMICOL^. 



year iu Bermuda, from the 20tli of August to the last of September, where it fre- 

 quents the swamps filled with stunted trees and bushes. A few stragglers remain 

 into November. One specimen was seen as early as July 25 ; and in 1850 several 

 were met with, in their spring migrations, as early as the 7th of April. They were 

 generally very shy. Mr. Hurdis mentions that other examples were shot on the 10th 

 and 16th of April of the same year. Mr. Dall noted the presence of this species at 

 Xulato from May 10th to the 18th. ^Ir. Eoss found it near Fort Simpson in the 

 latter part of May. It was also taken at Fort Yukon by ilr. J. McDougal, at Fort 

 Kae by Mr. Clark, and at Big Island by Mr. Eeid. 



Mr. Heushaw jjrefers the name of Wood Tattler for this species, as he does not 

 regard it as a solitary bird. He mentions having frecpiently met with it at the West, 

 in mountainous localities, on the borders of such small ponds as are wholly sur- 

 rounded by dense forests growing almost to the water's edge. During the migratory 

 season it occurs abundantly on the shores of all the rivers, and in fact frequents 

 every locality which is suited to the wants and tastes of Wading-birds. At these 

 seasons he found it very far from being solitary, and rarely to be seen alone ; little 

 companies of six or seven being quite usual, and not infrequently more may be seen 

 together. He did not succeed in iinding it breeding, but he has little or no doubt 

 that it actually does so in parts of Utah, Colorado, and even farther south. He 

 states that Mr. Aiken took adult birds near Pueblo, Colorado, late in July, which 

 had undoubtedly spent the summer and were breeding there. Mr. Henshaw procured 

 specimens at different points in Arizona from July 29 to August 24. 



This bird winters in Central America, where it is evidently quite common, judging 

 from the number of its skins iu all large collections from Guatemala. Mr. Skinner 

 obtained specimens near Coban. It is also found in most of the West India Islands, 

 Gundlach giving it as a visitant of Cuba, and (iosse including it among the birds of 

 Jamaica, where he found it — not seeming particiilarly solitary — about ponds iu pas- 

 tures and near fresh-water morasses. Its gizzard was filled with fragments of minute 

 water-insects. It is called by him the " Bar-tailed Sandpiper." One of these birds, 

 whose wing had been broken, was kept alive. It had most of the manners of the 

 Kildeer, but frequently held up the wings when running. Another, which had been 

 wounded at IVlount Edgcumbe Pond, plunged into the water and swam vigorously. 



Professor Newton met with this species on the Island of St. Croix. In its gen- 

 eral appearance it reminded him of the Wood Sandpiper of Europe (Blujacophilns 

 glareola), while it has more of the habits and notes of the Green Sandpiper {R. ocliro- 

 2ms). It was quite common on that island, and arrived about the same time as the 

 Totanus Jiavipes. He obtained one specimen as early as Jidy 26, and Mr. E. New- 

 ton one on August 5. In Trinidad, according to Leotaud, it is only a bird of pas- 

 sage, arriving there in August and leaving in October. It is almost always alone, 

 sometimes accompanied by its mate, and occasionally mingled with a flock of other 

 Waders. It is always seen near water, either on the borders of the sea, interior 

 ponds, or where water has softened the soil, thus favoring a search for worms and 

 other food. Its movements are marked by lightness and grace ; when it stops it 

 frequently vibrates its head backward and forward, moving its tail at the same time. 

 It flies rapidly, and in flying utters a low cry, as if calling to a companion. 



On the Pacific coast it occurs as far north as Alaska, where Mr. Dall met with it 

 at Nulato, sparingly, in the month of jNIay, and where it arrives as early as May 5. 

 In California, Dr. Cooper has not met with this species south of Santa Barbara, Fort 

 Tejon being the most southern locality in which its occurrence has been recorded. 

 It is more common inland and toward the north, frequenting chiefly the banks and 



