112 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BERMUDAS. 



July igtk, 1849. — Mr. Orde, 42nd Regiment, sent over 

 for my inspection a specimen of the Spotted Sandpiper 

 ( Totanus macularius). It was a young bird without spots, 

 and measured seven and three-fourths inches in length. 

 This is the first migratory bird from northern latitudes 

 that has come under my observation this season. On May 

 24th last, I noticed two of the Sandpiper tribe very busy 

 feeding in the wash of the sea below the Sand Hills. I 

 had no gun with me at the time, but have reason to believe 

 they were a pair of Spotted Sandpipers, stragglers of the 

 season. I visited the spot on the following day with the 

 intention of shooting them, but they were not to be found 

 though I searched the coast for miles. I do not think these 

 birds breed in Bermuda, but consider them as our earliest 

 visitants from the north at this very warm season of the 

 year. 



July 10th. — Recognised the well-known whistling note 

 of the Yellow-Shanks {Totanus flavipes), as it passed over 

 the town of Hamilton this evening, about an hour and a 

 half before sunset. It was thrice repeated. How wonder- 

 ful is the regularity with which this bird visits the Bermu- 

 das ! Weather serene. Wind south-east. 



August 2nd, 1849. — Saw a fine specimen of the Yellow- 

 legged Sandpiper {Totanus flavipes), in the possession of 

 Mr. Orde, who obtained it yesterday from a boy at Harris' 

 or Peniston's Pond, by whom it had just been shot. It 

 was remarkable for being excessively fat. Mr. Orde also 

 obtained at the same pond a little Sandpiper {Tringa 

 pusilld). Many of these birds were stated by the boy to 

 have been at the pond when first he visited it. Mr. Orde 

 reports two brown-looking Sandpipers seen by himself. 



