THE BIRDS OF THE BERMUDAS, 399 
beyond measure. They are at most times remarkably bold birds, 
and follow an intruder through the swamp or cedar grove, perching 
close to him and scolding most unmusically ; but when a pair have 
a nest they are far more suspicious, and silently leave the neigh- 
bourhood of their home. The hen bird sits very close on her eggs, 
but when disturbed darts rapidly away, returning as quickly and 
noiselessly when danger is past. Nidification commences about 
the end of the first week in April, and again at the end of May, two 
broods being reared. The nest is a large clumsy structure, built 
of dry grasses, weeds, and twigs, lined with small rootlets. It is 
very often ornamented externally with rags, bits of paper, skeleton 
leaves, &c., according to the quaint fancy of the architect. The 
usual site is in a cedar branch or lemon tree, at from three to eight 
feet from the ground; but occasionally an ainbitious pair will go a 
few feet higher. Eggs deep blue, with a greenish tinge, *92 in. by 
*68 in., usually four in number. Among the numerous nests I 
examined | found a considerable proportion to contain one egg 
much shorter and rounder than the other three. In one case this 
egg was almost a perfect sphere. There being but few grapes or 
wall fruits grown in Bermuda to attract these mischievous birds, 
they are not looked upon with the same disfavour as in the United 
States. 
Suxicola cenanthe, Wheatear.—This bird, a waif and a stray 
from Enrope, vid Greenland, to the American coutinent, has 
actually found its way to these remote islands. One was shot by 
an officer of the garrison, near the lighthouse, on October 5th, 
1846; the tail, unfortunately, was the only portion preserved, but 
this was sent to the late Mr. Yarrell, who confirmed its identity. 
Another was seen frequently by Col. Drummond and Major Wed- 
derburn, near St. George’s, in March, 1850, but baffied all their 
attempts to obain it. Whether these two examples came direct 
from Greenland, or were blown off the American coast, is an 
inscrutable mystery. 
Sialia sialis, Eastern Blue Bird.—Resident, and very common. 
Itis also migratory, arriving in small flocks after heavy gales in the 
winter months. Major Wedderburn observed them in large flocks 
at Ireland Island on January 5th, 1848; and my friend Mr. J. M. 
Jones records their appearance in smaller bands in the Novembers 
of 1866 and 1871. I have frequently noticed a sudden increase in 
the numbers of this species in winter, but the visitors appear to 
