A. E. 'Verrill — The Bermuda Islands. 



23 



appreciable extent. It has, however, become very abundant and 

 familiar in all parts of the islands and does considerable damage to 

 fruits and in other ways, so that it is generally considered a nuisance. 

 It does not confine itself so much to the settlements and highways 

 as in the United States, but is seen everywhere in the fields and 

 woods. It is accused of destroying the eggs of other more useful 

 birds, as w T ith us. The Bluebird, especially, is said to suffer thus 

 from its depredations. In 1883, an act was passed " To encourage 

 the destruction of Sparrows." But this did not seem to cause any 

 apparent decrease in its numbers, though the amount paid in boun- 

 ties is said to have been £800 in one year. It was introduced into 

 Bermuda from the United States in 1875. 



European Tree-Sparrow. (Passer montanus (L.) Koch.) 



This bird is apparently not uncommon. It was probably intro- 

 duced accidentally with the English Sparrow and has similar habits, 

 but it is less familiar. It was first recorded by A. H. Verrill, who 

 found it common in Paget Parish, March, 1901.* 



Figure 60. — European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis (L.) Schaf.) Phot, from 



life by A. H. Verrill. 



European Goldfinch. (Carduelis carduelis (L.) Schaf.) 



Figure 60. 

 This elegant little bird is becoming quite common in certain locali- 

 ties and seems to be fully naturalized. Numerous specimens were 

 seen in 1901, especially about Hungry Bay. 



* Amer. Jour. Science, xii, p. 64, July, 1901 ; and The Osprey, July, 1901. 



