FEATHERED TRAVELLERS 51 



shores, they are driven south, working their way down 

 all the eastern length of North America, until at last they 

 arrive at this little coral island basking in perpetual sun. 

 What a contrast, and what a journey ! Get your map, 

 we pray you, and consider it. 



But there are other shore-birds which find their way 

 to Swan Island and remain for longer or shorter periods. 

 Probably a complete list of those which at one time oi 

 another have visited the island, or which regularly pass 

 through on migration, would include the greater part of the 

 shore-birds, waders, and water-fowl of the West Indies. 



One never, or with the rarest exceptions, sees these 

 winter migrants speeding their way over the broad seas 

 to reach their appointed wintering places, no matter for 

 how many months one may be cruising from island to 

 island. Yesterday the rocky shore knew them not ; 

 to-day, as we walk along its edge, a wisp of deHcate little 

 spotted sandpipers {Actitis macular ia), or even the smaller 

 semipalmated sandpiper (Ereunetes ptisillus), flick away in 

 a tight little bunch over the wet sand or skim like a streak 

 of silvery grey just beyond the waves before they break. 



Into this Universe, and why not knowing, 

 Nor whence, like water willy-nilfy flowing ; 



And out of it, as wind along the waste, 

 I know not whither, willy-nilty blowing." 

 * * * * 



What, without asking, hither hurried whence ? 

 And, without asking, whither hurried hence ! " 



We have seen, too, a flock of Wilson's Plovers (Mgialitis 

 ivilsonia) here. They hung about the southern shores 

 of the island during the whole time of our visit, and Mr. 

 Townsend has seen the yellow-shanks (Totanus fiavipes), 

 a bird which corresponds to our red-shank. But these 

 five species are the only shore-birds which have been 

 actually recorded. 



We were told by the islanders that in the autumn 

 months — October and November — ^several species of duck 



D 2 



