18 THE BIRDS OF THE BERMUDAS. 
I obtained a female in Devonshire Marsh on the 8th, a young male 
on the 11th, and another on the 22nd of March, and one or two 
others were subsequently procured in the same locality. There 
appeared to have been a regular ‘‘entrada’’ of them, and it was 
remarkable how pertinaciously they stuck to certain cedar groves 
round about Devonshire Church. I saw many others, and watched 
the changes of plumage of the male birds with great interest. By 
the end of April they had acquired the rich blue livery of the 
adult, and rivalled the Blue Bird in brilliancy of colouring. Lieut. 
Tallents, of the 20th Regiment, shot a splendid specimen on April 
29th. ‘This was the last we saw, and I imagine they all departed 
shortly afterwards, though we fondly hoped they might stay to 
breed. I found them easily approached at first, but when once 
disturbed they flew very rapidly away into the thick cedars. Their 
call-note was a loud, harsh ‘‘ chee’’ or ‘‘ tzee.”’ 
Cardinalis virginianus, Cardinal Red Bird; Virginia Nightingale. 
—The well-known Red Bird of Bermuda is an abundant resident 
throughout the islands, everywhere conspicuous by its briliiant 
plumage and loud but not unmusical song. This bird is a general 
favourite with all classes, and in great esteem as a cage-bird. 
Formerly considerable numbers were caught by the ‘‘coloured’’ 
boys in the neat trap depicted in ‘‘ The Naturalist in Bermuda’’— 
an introduction, as I am informed, by Mr. J. M. Jones, from 
Somersetshire, and not a ’Mudian invention. Fortunately, how- 
ever, there are now stringent local laws for the protection of the 
resident birds, and these traps are seldom seen. I have tried in 
vain to bring up the young from the nest. The Red bird breeds 
twice a year in Bermuda. Fresh eggs have been found as early as 
the 1st April, and I find in my notes that I saw young birds just 
able to fly on the 19th; but these are exceptional cases. As a rule, 
the two clutches of eggs are deposited about April 10th and May 
30th respectively. - The eggs are three to five in number, averaging 
1:00 in. by ‘73 in. They vary much in size and markings, but are 
usually greenish white, irregularly marked with few purplish and 
many amber blotches. The nest is bulky, built of twigs and roots, 
lined with dry grasses. This lining alone serves to. distinguish 
some of the nests from those of the Cat Bird, which they much 
resemble ; they are usually at. a greater elevation, however, and are 
never ornamented with rags or paper. The parent birds are 
extremely solicitous in bringing up their offspring, and attend 
them assiduously long after they are able to fly, betraying their 
anxiety by much ‘‘tick-tick-’’ ing, flirting of tails, and raising of 
crests. To see a fine old paterfamilias in all the glory of his rich 
vermilion garments, tail and crest in air, now on a post, now on an 
oleander or cedar bough, all the while uttering his sharp ‘‘tick’’ 
of alarm, while the more sober-coloured mother is ministering to 
the appetites of the children, is a great treat, and will ever be 
associated in my memory with the hot sun, the white houses, dark 
cedars and fragrant sage-bushes of Bermuda. The young resem- 
ble the female, being ashy-brown, paler below, with evident traces 
of the red on the crest, wings, tail, and under parts. I have 
mentioned the ‘‘tick,’’ or call-note of this species. The song is 
