662 A. E. Verrill — The Bermuda Islands. 



other spellings, from its singular note. This bird is unknown to 

 science and is, so far as known, totally extinct, for it disappeared 

 within the first twelve years of the settlement. 



Among the other seabirds of less importance recorded as breeding 

 were the Tropic Bird and the " Pimlico " (Shearwater= Puffiovus), both 

 of which probably continue to breed here, though the latter exists 

 now only in small numbers, if at all. 



Of the wading birds, the White Heron attracted particular atten- 

 tion and was the subject of an early protective law. It bred so 

 abundantly that a locality, " Hearn Bay " (originally White Hearn 

 Bay) on Great Sound, took its name from this heronry. 



Of land birds a considerable number were mentioned, especially 

 by Governor Butler, who distinguished part of them as merely 

 migrants.* 



The " Crow," referred to by Governor Butler as flying out to sea 

 about sunset, was doubtless the true American Crow, and if so it had 

 been more numerous at first. It is still found in Bermuda, though 

 bounties have been unwisely offered for its destruction. The bird 

 compared to a crow by Governor Moore, 1612, which has been 

 thought to be the Catbird, from his description of its manners, may 

 have been the real crow. The following extracts give about all of 

 value that is recorded by these early writers concerning the resident 

 land birds, and some others that they noticed as migrants. 



William Strachy, in his narrative, 1610, has the following account : 

 " Fowle there is in great store, small Birds, Sparrowes.f fat and 

 plump like a Bunting, bigger than ours, Robins of divers colours, 

 greene and yellow, J ordinary and familiar in our Cabbins, and other 

 of lesse sort.§ White and gray Hernshawes [herons], Bitters [l»it- 



* The following 12 species of birds, generally considered native, apparently 

 still breed on the islands, though some are in very small numbers : Catbird : 

 Cardinal Bird ; Blue Bird ; White-eyed Vireo : American Crow ; Kingfisher : 

 Ground Dove ; Florida Gallinule ; Blue Heron (rarely) ; White Heron (rarely i ; 

 Tropic Bird (abundantly) ; Audubon's Shearwater or "pimlico" (perhaps rarely). 

 It is doubtful whether the Ground Dove was not introduced from the Bahamas. 

 Besides these, at least seven species introduced by man are now resident, among 

 them the American Quail ; English Sparrow; European Goldfinch: Wheatear ; 

 Mocking Bird, etc. Over 175 species of migrants visit the islands more or less 

 frequently. 



f This probably applies to the Cardinal Bird, whose female and young would, 

 to a casual observer, resemble a large fat bunting. 



\ This probably refers to the Bluebird, whose male and female differ in color. 

 But the author, writing from memory, must have become hazy as to the colors. 



§ The common native White-eyed Vireo might have been intended here. 



