414 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
notes are changed according to season. Mr. J. M. Jones called 
my attention to this, too late, unfortunately, for me to make any 
lengthened study of the changes; but I heard sufficient to satisfy 
myself of their occurrence. Thus, in December and January, nearly 
every songster I listened to was “ way-too-”ing at the top of his 
voice, and I occasionally heard the peculiar “ whir-r-r-r.”_ Later 
on “‘way-too” became less frequent, being replaced by the mono- 
tonous “ tew, tew,” and other notes. A more careful and lengthened 
series of observations would be of considerable interest. In spring 
the Red Bird commences to sing at daybreak, considerably before 
the Blue Bird. A wounded Red Bird can give the unwary 
collector a most painful nip with his strong beak. In spite, how- 
ever, of his strength, he allows himself to be driven ignominiously 
from his nest by the smaller Blue Bird, as already mentioned. 
The skin of this species is remarkably delicate, almost resembling 
tissue-paper. The rich vermilion plumage soon fades when exposed 
to light. 
Dolichonyx oryzivorus, Bob-o-link ; Rice Bird.—Mr. Hurdis says 
of this bird :—“ The Rice Bird is not known to visit the Bermudas 
on its vernal flight, although in September and October it seldom 
fails of being found there, generally in small flocks, and on one 
occasion in considerable numbers. They frequent the marshes, 
where the ripe panicles of seed from the reeds and sedge offer an 
ample abundance of their favourite food.” And Major Wedderburn 
remarks :—“ During some years this bird is not uncommon, but 
always found in winter plumage. They are so extremely fat that 
it is almost impossible to preserve them.” I have little to add to 
the above notes, except that one of Mr. Bartram’s specimens is a 
male in imperfect summer plumage. I never met with the species 
myself, but they were familiar to many of my friends. They did 
not visit the Bermudas in the autumn of 1874. [In September, 
1875, they were numerous.—H. D.] 
Molothrus pecoris, Cow Bird.—In Mr. Bartram’s collection there 
is one example of this singular bird, which takes the place of our 
European Cuckoo in North America, building no nest, but de- 
positing its eggs by stealth in the nests of Warblers, Vireos, 
Sparrows, &c. This solitary specimen is a male. It was shot at 
Stocks Point by Mr. Bartram. ; 
Icterus Baltimore, Baltimore Oriole ; Golden Robin.—“ Captain 
Tolcher, 56th Regiment, shot one of these birds early in October, 
