82 THE BERMUDA ISLANDS. 



quarters.* Mr. Savile Reid informs us that the presence of 

 the Virginia quail or " bob-white " marks a recent introduction, 

 the bird having entirely disappeared from the islands with 

 the year 1840; an importation from the United States was 

 made in 1858 or 1859, and is the orgin of the existing stock 

 of birds. 



Mr. Witmer Stone, one of my assistants, has furnished me 

 with the following notes on non-resident birds observed by him 

 during our visits to the islands in the month of July, a season 

 of the year when the bird fauna is probably at its minimum : 



Wilson's petrel (Oceanites oceanicus). A single individual 

 seen in the wake of the steamer a short distance out from the 

 islands. 



Least sandpiper (Tringa minutilld). Several individuals 

 seen near Spittal Pond. July 15. 



Piping plover (JEgialitis meloda). A single individual, which 

 followed in the wake of the departing steamer for the better 

 part of a day. 



Green heron (Ardeavirescens). A single individual observed 

 in the mangroves of Walsingham. 



We heard or saw all the resident birds of the islands with 

 the exception of the great blue heron (Ardea herodias). The 

 first tropic bird was seen before the land was yet sighted, and 

 from this time until our departure we seldom lost sight of these 

 beautiful creatures. At the time of our visit the breeding season 

 was nearly over, and the nearly fledged young were to be seen 

 sitting on the ledges overhanging the waters. The single egg 

 is deposited in holes in the rock, which are apparently excavated 

 by the parent. We found the birds breeding both on Har- 

 rington Sound and on the south shore. The little English 

 sparrow was also found breeding among the shelving rocks of 

 Harrington Sound. We observed but three crows during our 

 sojourn, and it would appear that this bird, which was at 

 various times abundant, even as early as the beginning of the 



*Mr. Wallace mentions the coot as a permanent resident, but probably the bird 

 intended is the gallinule. 



