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NAMES OF SHORE BIRDS. 
With the shore birds I have followed the American name 
with that in use in Barbados, as given by Col. Feilden in his 
‘Birds of Barbados’ (West Indian Bulletin, Vol. UI, p. 333), for 
the benefit of those who may be acquainted with the species in 
Barbados. 
FOREIGN BIRDS INCLUDED IN THE LIST. 
The list includes, in addition to the birds known to inhabit 
the colony, certain species, especially among the shore birds, 
which have never been obtained here, but which have been 
proved to occur on neighbouring islands, (Grenada, certain 
Grenadines, St. Lucia, or Barbados) and which may visit the 
island at any time. These are such species as pass through the 
West Indies on their way to and from North America, and are 
of erratic and uncertain occurrence on any one island. 
LOCAL DISTRIBUTION. 
Certain of the birds inhabit only the Island of St. Vincent 
while some are found only on certain of the Keys. For 
example, Myiadestes sibilans does not occur in the smaller 
islands, while Ortalida rujficauda, the cocorico, is restricted, as 
regards this colony, to two of the Grenadines. I have omitted 
to state the local distribution of the different species, as by so 
doing I should be depriving those who wish to make a study 
of the birds here, of the chance of making most interesting 
personal observations. 
THE LIST NOT A CRITICAL SCIENTIFIC ENUMBERATION, 
This list is intended as a guide to the study of the natural 
birds in this colony, and as an aid in protective legislation. 
It is not, in any sense, a scientific enumeration of the birds 
of St. Vincent, including, as explained, a number of species 
which have never been taken here. It cannot therefore be 
regarded in the same light as Mr. Well’s ‘ Birds of Grenada,’ or 
‘Birds of Carriacou,’ or Col. Feilden’s ‘Birds of Barbados.’ 
The preparation of a critical paper on the avifauna of any 
country, district or island necessitates ready access to a well- 
stocked ornithological library, which is impossible for any 
person residing in the Windward Islands; but for the use for 
which it is intended this list will, I hope, be found to serve its 
purpose. 
DESCRIPTIONS GIVEN. 
‘In the ease of the land birds, the length from the tip of the 
bill to the end of the tail is given, to facilitate identification. 
For instance, there are three birds here, Certhiola atrata, the 
St. Vincent Blackbird, Quiscalus luminosus, the Bequia Sweet, 
and Crotophaga ani, the Tick bird, which are all black in 
colour; but confusion is avoided when their relative sizes, 
4 inches, 103 inches and 12} inches, are understood. 
Length ; The length is that of a bird perched normally on 
a limb, with its head not extended. A little practice will 
enable one to judge pretty accurately the size of a bird at 
sight. In the case of the sea birds, which are difficult to judge 
