Page:The Zoologist, 3rd series, vol 1 (1877).djvu/502

476 Philohela minor, American Woodcock.—"A single specimen was shot near Hamilton in October, 1842, and one was supposed to have been seen at Hungry Bay a few years afterwards by Mr.Fozard" (Nat. in B., p. 42).

Gallinago Wilsonii, American Snipe.—Usually makes its first appearance at the beginning of October, a straggler or two remaining till January, and occurs also in March, April and May in limited numbers on its northward journey. It has been seen as early as the 13th September (Hurdis). It seems rather a farce to talk of the snipe-shooting in Bermuda; but occasionally large flights come in, and really fair bags are made, such as six or nine couple a-day to two guns. Pembroke Marsh is the great place f )r them, and a few usually take up 'their quarters in Devonshire Swamp. They are very good eating at first, but soon become rank from feeding in the brackish mud. They lie closer than our European Snipe, and a dog is a sine quâ non in the thick scrub-grown marshes. Their note is very similar, but they differ somewhat in plumage, especially in having sixteen tail-feathers instead of fourteen like our bird.

Gallinago media, English Snipe.—We have Major Wedderburn's authority for the occurrence of this bird in Bermuda. He shot two in Pembroke Marsh in December, 1847.

Macrorhamphus griseus, Red-breasted Snipe.—One "shot by Capt. Orde on the 29th September, 1847, at Harris's Bay; another was killed by Mr. C. Fozard on the 2Ist August, 1848" (Nat. in B., p. 43). A third was obtained on Pearl Island on September 10th, 1874, by Capt. Kirkwood, 53rd Regiment. This specimen was preserved by Capt. Rooke, who kindly presented it to me. [Three others were shot by Lieut. Festing, of the 20th Regiment, at Peniston's Pond, on the 17th September, 1875.—H.D.]

Micropalama himantopus, Long-legged Sandpiper.—Major Wedderburn killed two, one of which he unfortunately lost, in the beginning of August, 1848. [Lieut. Festing shot one at Peniston's Pond early in September, 1875.—H. D.]

Ereunetes pusillus, Semipalmated Sandpiper.—A regular visitor, arriving about the Ist August, or a few days earlier, and found in small flocks in the sandy bays, and on the margins of the open brackish ponds throughout the islands. They do not remain long.

Tringa minutilla, American Stint.—Arrives about the same time, and frequents the same localities, as the preceding species.