THE BIRDS OF THE BERMUDAS. 33 
Ardea virescens, Green Heron.—Also occurs on both migrations, 
sometimes in considerable numbers in the spring, frequenting the 
dense mangroves, and being uncommonly hard to obtain. Lieut. 
Denison and I each shot two beautiful specimens in April, 1875. 
Nyctiardea grisea (var. nevia), Night Heron; Qua-bird.—Imma- 
ture birds are not uncommon in the larger mangrove swamps in 
the autumn and winter, but none have yet been obtained in adult 
plumage. One examined by Mr. Hurdis, shot on the 9th February, 
had the irides bright carmine, and the long filamentous plumes of 
the occiput beginning to appear. These birds sit motionless among 
the mangroves, and when disturbed fly into the tops of the thickest 
trees, whence they are very hard to dislodge. 
Nyctiardea violacea, Yellow-crowned Night Heron.—Unlike its 
congener, this Heron has occurred in the plumage of the adult. 
Mr. Bartram has obtained several fine specimens. I obtained two 
myself, but both were in the spotted garb of youth. There is 
a great similarity between the young of these two species, but 
violacea may always be distinguished, in any plumage, by its longer 
tarsus and shorter bill. Occurs pretty regularly in small numbers, 
usually in autumn, but occasionally in spring. One of my speci- 
mens was shot as early as the 3rd August. 
Botaurus minor, American Bittern.—A regular visitor in the 
autumn, and occasionally in March, frequenting the sedgy, patches 
on the edge of the mangrove swamps. Mr. Hurdis says, ‘‘The 
stomach of one, shot in the Pembroke Marshes, contained an eel 
six inches long, a mouse, a dragonfly, a grasshopper, and part of 
a small golden carp.’’ [No less than thirteen were shot by one 
officer, whose name I hesitate to mention, in the autumn of 
1875.—H. D.] 
Ardetta exilis, Least Bittern —Has occurred both in spring and 
autumn, but, from its frequenting the thick mangrove swamps and 
hiding among their tangled roots, has not very often been obtained. 
Major Wedderburn procured several specimens between 1847 and 
1850. I shot a female near the Sluice-gates on March Ist, 1875. 
[One was obtained at Basden’s Pond in December, 1875.—H. D.] 
Ralius virginianus, Virginian Rail.—One was shot by Mr. Hurdis 
on the 6th November, 1851. He remarks, ‘‘This is the ‘only 
genuine Kail met with—a singular circumstance, when we bear in 
mind that a// the Gallinules and Crake-Gallinules known to the 
continent of North America have been obtained in the Bermudas.”’ 
Porzana carolina, Carolina Rail; Sora Rail.—Visits Bermuda 
regularly, arriving early in September (one has been shot on the 
24th August), and remaining till November, a few lingering on 
through the winter. On their vernal migration they frequently 
appear in considerable numbers in March and April. I have seen 
them as late as the Ist May. An extraordinary large flight visited 
the islands in October, 1849, departing in a body after a three- 
weeks’ stay. These birds are a great nuisance to the gunner in 
search of Snipe and other denizens of the marshes, as they bother 
a dog sadly both by their numbers and their skulking habits; and 
they themselves are not worth powder and shot, except immediately 
after their arrival. 
