94 THE NATURALIST IN BERMUDA. 
which attracted the birds, until they settled on the very 
person of the hunter.” 
Here we have the testimony of two writers distinctly 
pointing to the existence of a “singular” bird in the Ber- 
mudas. Let us examine these statements, and separating 
truth from fable, endeavour to ascertain the true character 
of this marvel of former days. 
Governor Smith says it 1s nocturnal in its habits, and 
noted for the tune of its voice, hiding in holes in the rocks 
by day, where it rears its young, and is easy to capture; he 
also describes its egg as being “white,” and Purchas further 
informs us that the bird is about the size of a plover. 
Being unable to obtain information from any one regard- 
ing the existence of this bird at the present. day, I deter- 
mined to visit the islands in the vicinity of Castle Habour, 
for the express purpose of ascertaining that point. A friend, 
imbued with a taste for natural knowledge, joimed me on 
this occasion. Embarking at the Ferry House in a four- 
oared cutter, on the 28th of June, 1847, we visited several 
of those islands, and were pleased to learn from persons 
there resident, that the Cahow was still known by its old 
name, which was described to us as an imitation of its 
peculiar note cao-hoo, and that it still continued to breed in 
that locality. A boy assured us that he had recently caught 
two of those birds on Cooper’s Island, and described them 
as “brown or whitish,” and about the size of a duck. 
I was particularly anxious to examine the Black, or 
Gurnet Head Rock, which rises boldly from the sea near the 
entrance to Castle Harbour; it being a favourite breeding 
place for the tern family, and where I thought it very 
probable the cahow might also be found, but a strong 
