14 THE BIRDS OF THE BERMUDAS. 
peared in considerable numbers. [One in my collection was shot 
at St. George’s, in September, 1875.—H. D 
Cotyle riparia, Bank Swallow; Sand Martin.—Identical with the 
European bird. Two specimens were shot by Capt. Lye, in Sep- 
tember, 1846; and a few seen near Hamilton on August 8th, 1847. 
Progne purpurea, Purple Martin.—This fine bird, a stragpler to 
the British lists, has only, like 7. bicolor, appeared on one occasion, 
during the ‘“‘entrada’’ of September, 1849, when it was numerous. 
Ampelis cedrorum, Cedar Bird.—Occurs rar ely, both on its autumnal 
and vernal flights. Three were shot out of a flock of about thirty, 
near Hungry Bay, on October 10th, 1847; four on December 17th 
following, one of which had a few of the brilliant wax-like tips to 
the secondaries; two out of a flock of twelve in December, 1849; 
one seen on January 5th, 1850; one shot on the 6th and another on 
the 10th April, 1850; one on December 2nd, 1851. In addition to 
these Mr. Bartram has three specimens, obtained at different dates. 
I did not myself meet with the species, or hear of its occurrence, 
during my stay. [Two were shot out of a flock of five on the 11th, 
and a third on the 22nd September, 1875, in Devonshire Swamp, 
by Lieut. Festing, 20th Regiment. <A male bird of this species was 
obtained near Prospect, on “November 24th, 1875. | 
Vireo noveboracensis, White-eyed Vireo.—The smallest and one of 
the commonest resident Bermuda birds, familiar to all through its 
sprightly ways, loud song, and astounding impudence. It is 
termed locally, ‘‘chick-of-the-village,’’ or, ‘‘ chick-choo-willio,”’ 
from its note. This is, however, very variable, and hardly any two 
birds give it the same rendering. Ong has a prefatory ‘‘ chick,’’ in 
addition ; another tacks the extra ‘‘chick’’ on at the end of his 
version ; while others cut it short, or jumble it all up together at 
random.. One particular variety is ‘‘ ginger-beer-quick,’”’ a call 
very much adapted to the climate of Bermuda. In short, there is 
no end to the variations ; and a stranger might well imagine, as I 
did myself at first, that there was more than one species present. 
It was some little time before I settled the matter to my own 
satisfaction by careful observation of every ‘‘ chick’’ I heard sing- 
ing, as I expected to theet with V. gilvus or V. Belli among the 
numerous musicians. The colour of the iris increased my difficulty, 
as I found it to be brownish, brownish grey, or grey—rarely white, 
as stated by authors. I presume it is only fully adult birds that 
show the real white iris; young birds have it decidedly brownish, 
and I have seen a female sitting on eggs with an undeniable 
brownish grey ‘‘cast’’ in her bright little eye. It would be a 
waste of time and valuable space to “describe the pretty pensile nest 
of this species, so familiar to all ornithologists. I have found it 
usually from three feet to twelve feet above the ground, in cedars, 
mangroves, Bermuda ‘‘holly,’’ pomegranate, and lemon trees, but 
most commonly in cedars. I never met with more than three eggs 
or young in one nest; authors assign four or five to the genus. 
The eggs average *71 in. by °52 in., white, with a few dark brown 
or black dots; some are entirely white. The young at first have 
the yellow of the wing bars and forehead very pale and dingy. 
This is a sad little torment to the collector. It comes hissing and 
