34 THE NATURALIST IN BERMUDA. 
under water. As the bird was struggling a good deal, the 
crab dropped it, and lay immediately below, till it was 
quite dead, when he again seized it, and bolted off. 
Being afraid of losing my bird, I at once gave chase, 
and speared the crab with the ramrod of my gun, not- 
withstanding which, he still retained hold of his prey. 
Having lost one of its claws, I did not preserve it, and 
very much regret not having done so, as the king-fisher is 
still in my possession. 
BARN SwALLow (Hirundo rustica). Rarely seen in April 
and May, but sometimes numerous in August and Septem- 
ber. I have seen it as early as Ist of August, in the year 
1848, at Hamilton; and they were numerous on that day 
at Hungry Bay, and Riddle’s Bay. This species was very 
numerous in the great flight of swallows, in September, 1849. 
BANK SwaLLow (H. riparia). Two specimens were 
killed, in September, 1846, by Captain Lye (20th Regi- 
ment), and a few were seen near Hamilton, on the 8th of 
August, 1847. 
WHITE-BELLIED SWALLOW (H. bicolor). A great flight of 
swallows appeared on the 22nd September, 1849, when this 
species was numerous, although never previously observed. 
PurPLe Martin (H. purpurea). These birds, like the 
H. bicolor, were numerous during the great flight of the 
22nd September, 1849, and an addition to the ornithology 
of the Bermudas. 
SPINE-TAILED SwiFt (Chetura pelasgia). One specimen 
only, shot on the 13th September, 1849, and now in Captain 
J. W. P. Orde’s collection. On the 24th of the same month, 
Mr. Hurdis noticed several of this species, stragglers, left 
behind, after the great flight of the 22nd September had 
taken its departure. 
