THE MUSEUM. 



73 



The Birds of Bermuda. 



Hamilton, Bermuda, 



January, 1896. 



While Bermuda offers many attrac- 

 tions to the tourist, one of its greatest 

 charms is its birds. Although the na- 

 tive family is not large, the Bermudas 

 afford an excellent position from whence 

 to observe the annual migration of 

 many species of the feathered tribes of 

 America. Equidistant, or nearly so, 

 from the shores of Nova Scotia, the 

 United States and the West Indian 

 Archipelago (but nearest to the Caro- 

 linas), they present, as it were, a cas- 

 ual resting place to many birds, while 

 traversing the broad e.xpanse of' ocean 

 which forms the eastern limit of their 

 great line of flight. Some species, as 

 the American golden plover, the Amer- 

 ican snipe, sora rail, nighthawk and 

 yellowshank, seldom fail to appear 

 every autumn, and may be set down 

 as regular visitors, probably from the 

 fact that their line of migration is di- 

 rect from the northeastern coasts of 

 the continent to the West Indies and 

 tropical South America; but the great 

 bulk of the recorded species are irreg- 

 ular or accidental visitors, whose mi- 

 gratory journeys are less ambitious, 

 and who are blown off the mainland 

 by unfavorable winds. 



An American gentleman who has 

 made a study of the subject says that 

 all of the birds recorded in the Ber- 

 muda list are included in that of North 

 America, and no species has as yet 

 been discovered peculiar to the islands. 

 But an officer of the Royal Berkshires 

 now stationed here, thinks there are 

 one or two e.xceptions. 



The catbird, here locally termed 

 blackbird, is one of the most abundant. 



It is said that its harsh, mewing cry 

 may be heard all the year round, re- 

 lieved in spring by a weak but com- 

 mendable roundelay. After a shower 

 of rain in May or June, says my in- 

 formant, the marshes appear literally 

 alive with these sprightly birds, and a 

 most agreeable concert takes place 

 among the males, prolonged till dusk 

 should the weather continue fine. On 

 ordinary occasions they sing a good 

 deal, but rain seems to delight them 

 beyond measure. They are at most 

 times remarkably bold birds, and fol- 

 low an intruder through the swamp or 

 cedar grove, perching close to him and 

 scolding most unmusically; but when 

 a pair have a nest they are far more 

 suspicious, and silently leave the neigh- 

 borhood of their home. The hen bird 

 sits very closely on her eggs, but when 

 disturbed darts rapidly away, return- 

 ing as quickly and noiselessly when 

 danger is past. 



The eastern bluebird is a resident, 

 and very common. It is also migra- 

 tory, arriving in small flocks after 

 heavy gales in the fall and early winter 

 months. It is truely one of the most 

 delightful of birds, and certainly the 

 flower of the limited flock of the Ber- 

 muda residents. Its brilliant plumage, 

 vivacious manners and pleasant warble 

 make it a welcome returner to the 

 States, and render it an object of in- 

 terest to all; while its confiding and 

 fearless nature in the building season, 

 and the number of no.xious insects it 

 destroys, cause it to be strictly protect- 

 ed here throughout the islands. The 

 male bird is perfectly lovely. The other 

 day I saw the dazzling blue plumage 

 of one illumined by the sun's rays as it 

 flashed across the road like a ray of 

 vivid azure light, and seemed actually 



