THE BIRDS OF THE BERMUDAS. 401 
but they have also a loud double note, “ cher-wee,” reminding one 
forcibly of that of an A¥gialitis. Attempts are made frequently to 
bring up young birds from the nest, but they rarely succeed. A 
few live ones are to be seen in captivity, presumably adults 
captured by birdlime or in traps; but as a cage bird it is a failure. 
It occasionally drives the Red Bird, Pitylus cardinalis, from its 
nest, even after eggs have been laid, and uses it as a foundation for 
its own. This is somewhat extraordinary, when one considers the 
formidable bill of the victim; but the Blue Bird is a determined 
little fellow, and fortune favours the bold. A great number of 
“ crawlers”—long scaly grubs, with no end of legs—are destroyed 
by these useful birds, who will sit patiently watching for them on 
a convenient twig, swooping down on the first comer, and bearing 
him off in triumph. They will also dart into the air after passing 
insects much like a Flycatcher, returning each time to their 
starting-point. They are very bold in pursuit of prey when they 
have young to feed, but always visit their nest with extreme 
caution should an observer be near. [Mr. Bartram believes that 
they do not migrate, but merely collect into flocks for the winter. 
—H. D.] 
Silta canadensis, Red-bellied Nuthatch.—One specimen only, 
in Mr. Bartram’s collection, shot by himself near his house at 
Stocks Point. 
[Certhia familiaris, Brown Creeper.—A male bird of this 
species was shot by Bendall, an old soldier of the 53rd regiment, 
out of three or four seen in Devonshire Swamp, on November 
24th, 1876.—H. D.] . 
Alauda arvensis, European Sky Lark.—Mr. Hurdis shot the 
only example of this well-known bird on June 12th, 1850. It had 
no appearance of being an escaped cage bird; and I do not see 
why a strong gale should-not have driven it even to such a distance 
from its ordinary line of flight. Prof. Newton, in his fourth edition 
of Yarrell’s ‘ British Birds,’ alludes to this specimen in describing 
the geographical distribution of the species, but seems inclined to 
doubt its being a genuine wild bird. It is possible that it may 
have been the Missouri Sky Lark, Neocorys Spraguei, recently 
ascertained to be by no means uncommon in the “ Far West.” 
The bird, 1 believe, was presented to Major Wedderburn. A 
further examination might lead to interesting results. It is worthy 
of remark that this unfortunate bird was described to Mr. Hurdis 
3F 
