THE BIRDS OF THE BERMUDAS. 19 
exceedingly variable, consisting of a series of musical. whistles. 
There is also a strange ‘‘ whir-r-r-r,’’ like a large bird suddenly 
rising on the wing, which is very peculiar. A most remarkable 
fact is that the notes are changed according to season. Mr. J. M. 
Jones called my attention to this, too late, unfortunately, for me 
to make any lengthened study of the changes; but I heard 
sufficient to satisfy myself of their occurrence. Thus, in December 
and January, nearly every songster I listened to was ‘‘ way-too-”’ 
ing at the top of his voice, and I occasionally heard the peculiar 
‘‘whir-r-r-r.’’ Later on ‘‘way-too’’ became less frequent, being 
replaced by the monotonous ‘‘tew, tew,’’ and other notes. A 
more careful and lengthened series of observations would be of 
considerable interest. In spring the Red Bird commences to sing 
at daybreak, considerably before the Blue Bird. A wounded Red 
Bird can give the unwary collector a most painful nip with his 
strong beak. In spite, however, of his strength, he allows himself 
to be driven ignominiously from his nest by the smaller Blue Bird, 
as already mentioned. The skin of this species is remarkably 
delicate, almost resembling tissue-paper. ‘The rich vermilion 
plumage soon fades when exposed to light. 
Dolichonyx oryzivorus, Bob-o-link; Rice Bird.—Mr. Hurdis says 
of this bird :—‘‘ The Rice Bird is not known to visit the Bermudas 
on its vernal flight, although in September and October it seldom 
fails of being found there, generally in small flocks, and on one 
occasion in considerable numbers. They frequent the marshes, 
where the ripe panicles of seed from the reeds and sedge offer an 
ample abundance of their favourite food.’”?” And Major Wedder- 
burn remarks :—‘‘ During some years this bird is not uncommon, 
but always found in winter plumage. They are so extremely fat 
that it is almost impossible to preserve them.’’ I have little to add 
to the above notes, except that one of Mr. Bartram’s specimens is a 
male in imperfect summer plumage. I never met with the species 
myself, but they were familiar to many of my friends. They did 
not visit the Bermudas in the autumn of 1874. [In September, 
1875, they were numerous.—H. D.] 
Molothrus pecoris, Cow Bird.—In Mr. Bartram’s collection there 
is one example of this singular bird, which takes the place of our 
European Cuckoo in North America, building no nest, but 
depositing its eggs by stealth in the nests of Warblers, Vireos, 
Sparrows, &c. This solitary specimen is a male. Jt was shot at 
Stocks Point by Mr. Bartram. 
Ieterus Baltimore, Baltimore Oriole; Golden Robin.—‘‘ Captain 
Tolcher, 56th Regiment, shot one of these birds early in October, 
1854, at Somerset. Mr. Hurdis found it amongst his collection of 
skins on the 20th of the same month, when Capt. Tolcher assured 
him that Mr. Harford, of his regiment, had killed another speci- 
men about the same time, which, from being very much mutilated, 
he had unfortunately thrown away’’ (Nat. in B., p. 27). A third 
example, a male in splendid plumage, is in my own collection. I 
shot it near Hungry Bay, on April 28th, 1875. The bill and feet 
of this bird were bright livid blue. 
Corvus americanus, American Crow.—The early history of this 
