84 



THE OSPREY. 



hibiting killing of birds or taking the eggs, 

 they have rapidly increased until at present the 

 number breeding yearly on the islands is calcu- 

 lated at fully 5,000. 



The number of resident land birds is small 

 and may be in part accounted for by the extreme 

 scarcity of insects. Aside from the English 

 Sparrow the only residents are the European 

 Tree-sparrow. European Goldfinch, American 

 Goldfinch, Wheatear, Mocking Bird, Bahama 

 Ground Dove. Cardinal. Crow. Bluebird. White- 

 eyed Vireo, Bob-white and Catbird. ( )f these the 

 first five species have been introduced quite re- 

 cently and are restricted to comparatively small 

 portions of the islands. The Cardinal. Bluebird, 

 Vireo, Catbird, and Ground Dove are abundant 

 everywhere, and the Quail, owing to strict pro- 

 tection, is common and tame in all suitable local- 

 ities, often coining into the chicken yards and 

 feeding with the fowls. 



The Cardinal, has, by former observers 

 always been considered as identical with the 

 common American form, (C. cardinalis). This 

 is partly due to the fact that for some reason 

 there seems to be a general belief that the bird 

 was introduced from Virginia. The oldest ac- 

 counts of the islands, however, mention the 

 "Redbirds" as common, and as long ago as lx-lx, 

 Mr. Hurdis lamented the fact that the bird 

 would soon become scarce if the large export 

 trade in them was continued, and stated that he 

 had seen as many as 500 about to be shipped to 

 England as cag'e birds. In a series collected 

 during March and April there seems to be a 

 marked and constant difference between the 

 liermudian and common American forms, and 

 I think it well worthy Of being considered a 

 distinct subspecies. 



Cardinalis cardinalis somersii: Somer*s Island 

 Cardinal. 



Ad. ;. Lower parts brilliant orange-vermil- 

 lion, brighter and more orange than the C. car- 

 dinalis. Upper parts also brighter and clearer 

 deeper lake-red. the tips of feathers showing 

 scarcely any traces of grayish. Wings and tail 

 much as in cardinalis. Cheeks and crest-bright 

 vermillion. sharply defined and not merging 

 into darker red of neck. Bill deep scarlet, legs 

 and feet umber-brown. Ad. 9 , lighter than true 

 cardinalis especially on lower parts. Breast 

 deep, buffy-yellow, belly almost pure white. 

 Upper parts clear ashy-gray, with scarcely any 

 trace of olive or brownish. Crest and ear-coverts 

 strongly tinged with red, the longer feathers 

 almost as bright as in the male. Capistrum 

 deep blackish-gray. Wings and tail much as in 

 male. Bill deep scarlet, legs and feet umber- 

 brown. Length, 8.75. Wing, 3.75. Tail. 4.25. 

 Culmen, 0.80. 



Nest, as usual, but generally placed from 5 to 

 20 feet above ground. Eggs 3 to 5: 1.02x0.75 

 greenish-gray, thickly spotted and blotched with 

 pale umber, ochre, blackish, and lilac. 



The Bluebird as in the case of the Cardinal 

 has until the present time, been placed with true 

 sialis, but even before obtaining any specimens. 

 I noticed that the Bermuda birds appeared larger 

 and brighter, and upon comparing my speci- 

 mens with a large series in the collection of Dr. 

 Louis B. Bishop of this city. I find my original 



impression borne out. As these birds are res- 

 idents and have always been found in the 

 islands. I see no reason why tiny should not be 

 separated as a local race. 



Sialia sialis bermndensis: Bermuda Bluebird. 



Head, back, and upper parts much brighter 

 than in .V. sialis the blue being of a peculiar, 

 brilliant, purplish azure, slightly brighter on 

 rump. Tail and wings not appreciably different 

 in color from the back. Breast, sides, and Hanks 

 deep purplish-cinnamon, much darker and richer 

 than even Florida specimens. Chin, cheeks, 

 and ear-coverts grayish-blue, sharply contrasted 

 with rich blue of head and neck. Ad. . duller 

 and more brownish, (particularly on head), with 



StJMKKS ISLAND CARDINAL. 



brighter back and rump than true sialis. Throat 

 and chin washed with pale huffy-cinnamon. 

 Chest duller and paler than male, but much 

 richer than either Florida or New England 

 specimens of sialis. the color extending along 

 sides and broadly on flanks. Orbital ring very 

 distinct. No distinct malar stripe. Edge of 

 wing, at carpal joint, distinctly pure white. 

 Length 6.75 to 7.50. Wing 5 to 4.25. Tail 2.75 

 to 3.25. Nest usually, though not always, built 

 in holes or crevices of rocks and cliffs. Eggs 

 generally pure white, rarely tinged with pale 

 greenish-blue. 



The following - pe ;ies, observed during March. 

 April, and May. 1V01, have never, to my knowl- 

 edge, been recorded from Bermuda. 



Phaeton aethereus: Red-billed Tropic-bird. 



Two or three individuals of this fine species 



