NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BERMUDAS. 227 



quite correct, though none of my ornithological works 

 mention quill feathers of that description, and I have no 

 skinned specimen to refer to. Both were male specimens, 

 and very fat. They formed part of a flock of five — 

 probably those observed by Mr. Selby on the 6th instant. 



September 2\th. — At 9 p.m. last night heard the piping 

 notes of passing flocks of Plover for the first time this 

 season. The night was very dark, with distant lightning 

 in the north-east, and the heavy clouds threatening a 

 continuance of the soaking showers which have fallen at 

 intervals for some days past. What little wind there was 

 came from the north-east. These birds continued to pass 

 on, in a southerly direction, in successive flocks all night ; 

 and I learn to-day, from various individuals, that such was 

 the case at Spanish Point, the vicinity of the lighthouse, 

 and along the north shore of this parish. 



Judging by the notes of these Plover, their flight must 

 have been at a low elevation. Mr. Fozard, who visited the 

 north shore early this morning, tells me that small flocks 

 of Plover were now and then to be seen making the land 

 from a northerly direction. I examined a couple of these 

 birds {Charadrius marmoratus), shot by this gentleman. 

 They were of the usual Golden Plover size, without any 

 black whatever on the lower parts, which were of a 

 yellowish white or whitey-brown colour, transversely barred 

 on the flanks with light brown. Legs, of a dingy black. 

 Bill, black. These are the only Golden Plover I have 

 seen this year. It rained the greater part of last night, 

 and to-day it has poured at intervals. 



September 26th. — Heard the note of the Totanus flavipes 

 now and then, as one or two of these birds passed over the 



