280 
PRiECOCIAL GRALLATORES — LIMICOLAI. 
year in Bermuda, from the 20th of August to the last of September, where it fre- 
quents the swamps filled with stunted trees and bushes. A few stragglers remain 
into November. One specimen was seen as early as July 25; and in 1850 several 
were met with, in their spring migrations, as early as the 7tli of April. They were 
generally very shy. Mr. Hurdis mentions that other examples were shot on the 10th 
and 16th of April of the same year. Mr. Dali noted the presence of this species at 
Nulato from May 10th to the 18th. Mr. Boss found it near Fort Simpson in the 
latter part of May. It was also taken at Fort Yukon by Mr. J. McDougal, at Fort 
Rae by Mr. Clark, and at Big Island by Mr. Reid. 
Mr. Henshaw prefers the name of Wood Tattler for this species, as he does not 
regard it as a solitary bird. He mentions having frequently met with it at the West, 
in mountainous localities, on the borders of such small ponds as are wholly sur- 
rounded by dense forests growing almost to the water’s edge. During the migratory 
season it occurs abundantly on the shores of all the rivers, and in fact frequents 
every locality which is suited to the wants and tastes of Wading-birds. At these 
seasons he found it very far from being solitary, and rarely to be seen alone ; little 
companies of six or seven being quite usual, and not infrequently more may be seen 
together. He did not succeed in finding it breeding, but he has little or no doubt 
that it actually does so in parts of Utah, Colorado, and even farther south. He 
states that Mr. Aiken took adult birds near Pueblo, Colorado, late in July, which 
had undoubtedly spent the summer and were breeding there. Mr. Henshaw procured 
specimens at different points in Arizona from July 29 to August 24. 
This bird winters in Central America, where it is evidently quite common, judging 
from the number of its skins in all large collections from Guatemala. Mr. Skinner 
obtained specimens near Coban. It is also found in most of the West India Islands, 
Gundlach giving it as a visitant of Cuba, and Gosse including it among the birds of 
Jamaica, where he found it — not seeming particularly solitary — about ponds in pas- 
tures and near fresh-water morasses. Its gizzard was filled with fragments of minute 
water-insects. It is called by him the “ Bar-tailed Sandpiper.” One of these birds, 
whose wing had been broken, was kept alive. It had most of the manners of the 
Kildeer, but frequently held up the wings when running. Another, which had been 
wounded at Mount Edgcumbe Pond, plunged into the water and swam vigorously. 
Professor Newton met with this species on the Island of St. Croix. In its gen- 
eral appearance it reminded him of the Wood Sandpiper of Europe ( Rhyacopliilus 
glareola), while it has more of the habits and notes of the Green Sandpiper (R. ochro- 
pus). It was quite common on that island, and arrived about the same time as the 
Totanus flavipes. He obtained one specimen as early as July 26, and Mr. E. New- 
ton one on August 5. In Trinidad, according to Leotaud, it is only a bird of pas- 
sage, arriving there in August and leaving in October. It is almost always alone, 
sometimes accompanied by its mate, and occasionally mingled with a flock of other 
Waders. It is always seen near water, either on the borders of the sea, interior 
ponds, or where water has softened the soil, thus favoring a search for worms and 
other food. Its movements are marked by lightness and grace ; when it stops it 
frequently vibrates its head backward and forward, moving its tail at the same time. 
It flies rapidly, and in flying utters a low cry, as if calling to a companion. 
On the Pacific coast it occurs as far north as Alaska, where Mr. Dali met with it 
at Nulato, sparingly, in the month of May, and where it arrives as early as May 5. 
In California, Dr. Cooper has not met with this species south of Santa Barbara, Fort 
Tejon being the most southern locality in which its occurrence has been recorded. 
It is more common inland and toward the north, frequenting chiefly the banks and 
