BIRDS OF BERMUDA. 201 



vain to bring up the young from the nest. Th.e Red Bird breeds twice 

 a year in Bermuda. Fresh eggs have been found as early as llie 1st 

 April, and I find in my notes that I saw young birds Just able to lly on 

 the lOtli ; but these are exceptional cases. As a rule, the two clutches 

 of eggs are deposited about April 10 and May 30, respectively. The 

 eggs are three to five in number, averaging 1.00 inch x .7*3 inch. They 

 vary much in size and markings, but are usually greenish white, irregn- 

 larly marked with few purplish and many amber blotches. The nest 

 is bulky, built of twigs and roots, lined with dry grasses. This lining 

 alone serves to distinguish some of the nests from those of the Cat 

 Bird, which they much resemble 5 they are usually at a greater eleva- 

 tion, however, and are never ornamented with rags or paper. Tlie 

 parent birds are extremely solicitous in bringing up their oifspring, and 

 attend them assiduously long after they are able to fly, betraying their 

 anxiety by much " tick-tick-"ing, flirting of tails, and raising of crests. 

 To see a fine old jiaterfamilias in all the glory of his rich vermilion 

 garments, tail and crest in air, now on a post, now on an oleander or 

 cedar bough, all the while uttering his sharp ''tick" of alarm, while 

 the more sober-colored mother is ministering to the appetites of the 

 children, is a great treat, and will ever be associated in my memory 

 with the hot sun, the white houses, dark cedars, and fragrant sage- 

 bushes of Bermuda. The young resemble the female, being ashy- 

 brown, i)aler below, with evident traces of the red on the crest, wings, 

 tail, and under parts. I have mentioned the " tick," or call-note of this 

 species. The song is exceedingly variable, consisting of a series of 

 musical whistles. There is also a strange " whir-r-r-r," like a large 

 bird suddenly rising on the wing, which is very peculiar. A most 

 remarkable fact is that the notes are changed according to season. 

 Mr. J. M. Jones called my attention to this too late, unfortunately, for 

 me to make any lengthened study of the changes ; but I heard sufficient 

 to satisfy myself of their occurrence. Thus, in December and January 

 nearly every songster I listened to was "way-too-"ing at the top of his 

 voice, and I occasionally heard the i)eculiar "whir-r-r-r." Later on 

 ^'way-too" became less frequent, being replaced by the monotonous 

 "tew, tew," and other notes. A more careful and lengthened series of 

 observations would be of considerable interest. In spring the Red 

 Bird commences to sing at daybreak, considerably before the Blue 

 Bird. A wounded Red Bird cau give the unwary collector a most 

 painful nip with his strong beak. In spite, however, of his strength, 



