172 THE NATURALIST IN BERMUDA. 
always so blown with air as to float belly upwards, being 
unable to retain their natural position in the water. The 
fishermen assure me this does not arise from towing, and 
that all fish caught in deep water invariably come to the 
surface in that state. Shallow water fish, they say, are 
never blown in this manner. 
Again, the Porcupine fish (Tetraodon) when hooked, 
comes to the surface expanded with air into the form of a 
ball, with its formidable spines erect; but when taken 
in a fish-pot it does not exhibit this extraordinary inflation, 
and the spines are recumbent. 
How are these phenomenon to be accounted for ?—J. L. H. 

MorTALITY AMONG ImporTED PoULTRY.—It is an extra- 
ordinary circumstance that common domestic fowls, im- 
ported from the United States of America into the 
Bermudas, though landed in the best of order and con- 
dition, sicken and die soon after their arrival in the 
Islands ; whether from change of climate or food, or from 
what other cause I cannot say, but certain it is, that in the 
course of a few weeks, dozens of these birds will dwindle 
down to as many units, notwithstanding every care has 
been bestowed upon them. Geese, ducks, and turkeys 
appear to be exempt from the cause of this mortality; and 
fowls bred in the islands do not suffer from it, even when 
associated with the imported birds. I have occasionally 
attempted to improve the few fowls about my own resi- 
dence by purchasing handsome birds from American vessels, 
but after moping about for some time with drooping wings 
and pallid combs, they invariably died—QJ. L. H. 

