34 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BERMUDAS. 



Lieutenant Orde, of the 42nd Highlanders. This bird was 

 unable to fly. I was not aware these birds breed so late 

 in the season. 



September 20th, 1847. — Hearing' that Mr. Wedderburn 

 had shot eleven Golden Plover in the vicinity of Gibbs' Hill 

 on Saturday last, I beat down in the Customs boat this 

 afternoon in a stiff westerly wind, in company with Mr. 

 Marriott, hoping to fall in with a flock, should any remain 

 in that neighbourhood. Saw nothing but the small native 

 birds of the islands. Mr. Fozard visited the North Hills 

 at daybreak, and also returned without seeing a Plover. 

 Such is the uncertainty of falling in with these transient 

 visitors. 



Received another specimen of the Solitary Sandpiper 

 from Mr. Marriott, who also saw a Water Thrush at the 

 same time. 



September 27th, 1847. — Cruised about among the islands 

 in the Sound, and saw a large flock of sixty or more 

 Golden Plover on Long Island. Landed, but did not 

 succeed in getting a shot at them. Fell in with several 

 smaller flocks (probably detachments from the first) but 

 failed in obtaining a single bird. 



Mr. Orde, who had been out in the same direction, killed 

 two Golden Plover, one of which appeared to be of mature 

 plumage, dotted all over very distinctly with yellow spots ; 

 and the breast mottled very like that of the English Golden 

 Plover. It was not a full-sized specimen, for which reason 

 I conclude it to be a female in adult plumage — a genuine 

 Charadrius marmoratus — with the axillaries and inner 

 wing coverts of the usual light-brown woody colour. 

 Length, ten inches. 



