254 PROCEEDINGS: BOSTON SOCIETY NATURAL HISTORY. 
other, or in pairs, just as they do in the north. On Grenada and 
St. Vincent it is usually found along the rivers, but does not ascend 
them so high as does Actitis macularia. On Barbados this is not 
reckoned a game bird, and is not hung up with the other shore 
birds after a day’s shooting, as it is supposed to spoil them. This 
is probably due to its strong and rather disagreeable odor. 
Pavoncella pugnax (Linn.). Ruff.— Schomburgk ('48, p. 
681), says: “The Ruff Sandpiper is a British bird, and I have been 
informed that it is the first time that this species has been recorded 
as having: been found on the other side of the Atlantic. Mr. 
Bishop sent it to me among other migrating birds, and observed 
that its name was not known, from which I infer that its occurrence 
in Barbados is a singular circumstance.” 
Col. Feilden obtained another specimen of this bird in full 
breeding plumage from Mr. II. Alleyne, which was shot by Mr. Id. 
Simson of Bridgetown in Graeme Hall swamp in 1878. 
Symphemia semipalmata (Gmel.). White-tailed Cue- 
lew ; Willet.— A regular, but rather uncommon visitor. I saw 
one at Chateaubelair, St. Vincent, in October, 1903, and it is 
recorded from Barbados, Carriacou, and Grenada. 
Bartramia longicauda (Bechst.). Cotton-tree Plover.— 
Col. Feilden says: “Generally arrives (in Barbados) about the 
middle of August, and a few remain until March. On arrival the 
flocks break up and scatter over the grass lands, corn-fields, yam 
and sweet-potato patches, feeding on grasshoppers, beetles, and 
other insects. They are not attracted b}^ the ‘mock-birds,’ neither 
do they respond to the whistle of the sportsman. They run as fast 
as a Guinea fowl, and generally rise well out of shot. Their note is 
peculiarly pretty, a soft liquid cry. The local name given to this 
bird took its origin from its habit of frequenting the cotton fields 
when this plant was cultivated in Barbados.” 1 
Wells says that small numbers arrive in Grenada and Carriacou 
during September and October. They are very wary, and frequent 
the hilly pastures. It has not been recorded from St. Vincent. 
The Upland Plover is becoming more and more scarce every year, 
according to the natives in these islands. 
o 
1 Hughes’ “Cotton Tree Birch” however (1750, p. 72), is evidently a Pas¬ 
serine. Vide Hypothetical species, “The Cotton-Tree Bird.” 
