Scott on Birds observed in Florida. 
I 9 
The Red-breasted Snipe ( Macrorham phus griseus) was a 
common bird during my stay on the Gulf Coast and was also met 
with at Panasofkee Lake, though not commonly. At this latter 
place most of the individuals obtained were the variety scolopa- 
ceus , but on the Gulf the commoner form (variety griseus) ob- 
tained, almost to the exclusion of the other. A curious habit of 
this species was noted at the mouth of the Withlacoochee, where 
I saw the birds alight in very deep water and swim about for con- 
siderable time. This occurred in every instance after a flock had 
been fired at, and I thought at first that the birds had been 
wounded, but after observing the occurrence a number of times 
and on watching the birds while in the water I concluded that 
such was not the case. Those I noted were generally solitary 
individuals, but twice I saw three and once four alight in the 
water, swim lightly and gracefully about, and when disturbed rise 
easily and fly away. These observations were all made at one 
point. This was an oyster reef at some distance from any other 
land. At low tide it was bare and would become covered at this 
time with hosts of Grallce. A single point remained half-sub- 
merged at high water and this was covered with this species and 
Strepsilas interpres. The area thus crowded by birds was 
but a few square yards and the birds on it at high water were 
generally asleep, as was plainly to be seen with a field glass. I 
think the birds simply alighted in the water to wait till such a 
time as the disturbing element would allow of their returning to 
this favorite resting point. 
The Great Marbled Godwit ( Limosa fedoa) and the Long- 
billed Curlew ( Numenius longirostris) were common on the 
Gulf Coast at both points visited, and I was told by trustworthy 
hunters that both species remained the year round, though very 
much more abundant in winter. Other species of Numenius I 
did not meet with. It seems hardly necessary to record the 
abundance of the Willet ( Totanus semipalmatus) , which was 
very common and conspicuous on the Gulf Coast, assumed its 
full plumage late in February, and was not found breeding till 
April. These later observations were made at Clearwater. 
The Red-breasted Sandpiper ( Tringa canutus) was common at 
Clearwater in February, as was also the Dunlin ( Tringa alpina 
americana) . A single record of Tringa bonapartu was made 
at Clearwater in February. 
