of the Pacific Coast of Guatemala. 191 



Another flock would consist of Ring-Plovers, of which I found 

 three species — Wilson's Plover [jlLgialites wilsonianus, Cassin), 

 the Semipalmated Plover {^E. semipalmatus, Cab.), and the West- 

 ern Plover [jE. nivosus, Cassin). The first two were by far the 

 commonest ; of the last I obtained but one specimen. It appears 

 to be a very rare bird, but few specimens existing in collections. 

 Wilson's Plover remains to breed on the cays of the east coast, 

 as I have mentioned in my previous paper (Ibis, loc. cit.). The 

 only other Ring-Plover {jE. vociferus, Cass.) which I have observed 

 in Guatemala seems to prefer freshwater marshes in the interior to 

 these salt tide-washed sandbanks. This last-mentioned species 

 is common in the highland swamps, but is also found in similar 

 localities in the hot districts of little elevation. Another common 

 Wader frequenting the sandbanks was the Brown Snipe (ikTacro- 

 r hamphus ffriseus, Jjeach) . I used always to see it feeding in the open 

 where there was no cover whatever, its habits strongly contrast- 

 ing in this respect with the common Snipe, to which it is closely 

 allied. This bird and the European Woodcock {Scolopax rusti- 

 cola,Jj.) seem to represent two extremes as regards choice of feed- 

 ing-ground, the true Snipes occupying an intermediate place in 

 their pi'eference of grass and seeds. Another bird, though not very 

 numerous, was the Turnstone {Strepsilas interpres, Illig.) — the 

 wide-spread species, and not the Western American form called 

 the Black Turnstone (>S^. melanocephala, Vig.). Semipalmated 

 Sandpipers [Ereunetes petrificatus, 111.), too, were very common. 

 The variation in the length of the bill in this bird is very remark- 

 able. Out of the same flock I have shot specimens whose bills 

 varied in length at least a quarter of an inch. 



My fishing excursions used frequently to take me up the 

 creeks, or esteros, as they are commonly called. Their banks are 

 lined with thick mangroves, amongst the tangled roots of which I 

 usuallysaw Tiger-Bitterns (TY^moma tigrinum, Sw.) skulking, and 

 also the small Green Heron [Butoi'ides virescens, Bp.) . Yellow- 

 crowned Night-Herons [Nycticorax violaceus, Bp.), too, were not 

 uncommon; and beautiful Snowy Egrets [Garzetta candidissima, 

 Bp.) would always attract the eye as they rested on the mangrove 

 boughs. A small flock of Roseate Spoonbills [Platalea ajaja, L.) 

 not unfrequently flew across the creek, seldom within shot, but 



