34 THE BIRDS OF THE BERMUDAS. 
Porzana noveboracensis, Yellow Rail.—Two obtained in Pembroke 
Marsh by Major Wedderburn in October, 1847. 
Porzana jamaicensis, Black Rail.—Observed, and also obtained, by 
Major Wedderburn in 1847 and 1848, and by Mr. Hurdis in 1851, 
always in the autumn. ‘ 
Crex pratensis, Corn Crake ; Land Rail.—Major Wedderburn shot 
the only specimen of this European bird ever obtained in Bermuda, 
on the 25th October, 1847, and sent a notice of its occurrence to 
‘The Zoologist’’ in 1849. At that time it was probably not 
known that the species is a straggler to the United States, but 
latterly several instances of its appearance there have been 
recorded, so that the fact of its being killed in Bermuda has lost 
much of the mystery which was originally connected with it. 
Gallinula chloropus ? (var. galeata), Florida Gallinule ; Moorhen.— 
Resident, tolerably abundant, breeding in the flags and sedges in 
the deepest and most inaccessible parts of the marshes. Also 
migratory, visitors appearing in October. Like the ‘‘ Sora,’’ this 
is a sad pest to the snipe-shooter when working the thick places, 
unless his dog be as steady as old Time. The Latin name of this 
bird given above plainly shows that ‘‘ doctors disagree’’ about its 
specific identity with our familiar Moorhen. So far as I can judge, 
the two are inseparable, but my Bermuda specimens seem a trifle 
larger than the European birds. 
Porphyrio martinica, Purple Gallinule.—This bird must not be 
confounded with the European P. hyacinthinus, of which it is the 
American representative. Several were obtained in 1849 and 1850, 
in the month of April. Mr. Bartram has seyeral specimens. I am 
almost sure I saw one in Devonshire Swamp in February, 1875. 
The shy habits and nature of the haunts of this species doubtless 
prevent many examples being recorded in the visiting list. 
Fulica americana, American Coot.—Clearly distinct from our 
F. atva. A regular visitor in autumn, but never in great numbers. 
It also occurs on its northward jourmey, for Mr. Hurdis records one 
killed at Somerset on the 28th May, 1847, and I watched one close 
to me at Basden’s Pond on the 27th April, 1875. 
Phenicopterus ruber, American Flamingo.—One was seen in a 
mangrove swamp by Mr. Hurdis. 
Cygnus americanus, Whisthng Swan.—Ohne shot in White’s Marsh ; 
‘the witnesses were living in 1859. 
Anser hyperboreus, Snow Goose.—Major Wedderburn’s notes con- 
tain the following :—‘‘On the 19th October, 1848, Mr. Hodgson 
Smith shot two of these birds, in their young plumage, at Riddle’s 
Bay; but unfortunately for the ends of science, they furnished the 
dinner-table instead of the cabinet.’’ Myr. Hurdis adds, ‘‘ A wing, 
pertaining to one of the specimens mentioned by Major Wedder- 
burn, was fortunately saved by Mr. Smith, which removed all 
doubts as to the species it belonged to. In October, 1849, two 
‘white Geese’ were observed in Mangrove Bay, and on the 
10th March, 1851, four dark grey-coloured Geese. were seen 
on the wing, near Peniston’s Pond. These were doubtless 4. 
hyperboreus.’’? I may here remark that the young of the Blue 
Goose, A. cerulescens, much resembles that of A. hyperboreus, and 
