418 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
Trochilus colubris, Ruby-throated Humming Bird.—I found the 
history of this bird’s occurrence in Bermuda in a very unsatisfactory 
state. Major Wedderburn writes :—* There is a tradition that the 
Humming Bird visited the islands of Bermuda in considerable 
numbers about thirty years ago; but of late years they have not 
been noticed till the 26th April, 1852, when Mr. Hurdis wrote to 
me, saying that Mr. John Darrell (son of the Attorney-General, 
now Chief Justice, of those islands) had seen a Humming Bird 
under the windows of his father’s house, where it was busily 
employed entering the large white bell-shaped flowers of the giant 
Slramonium, its tail only at times being visible, Another was seen 
about the same time, and within about two miles of the same place, 
by a Miss Watson, in her brother’s garden.” Referring to the 
above, Mr. Hurdis says :—“‘ My endeavours to ascertain the truth 
of the tradition alluded to by Major Wedderburn ended in disap- 
pointment. The bird seen by Mr, Darrell was described to me as 
greenish in colour, with the tail—the only part visible at times— 
tipped with white. I need not observe that this characteristic 
appertains to the female.” 1 was, therefore, much pleased to 
establish its occurrence beyond a doubt, when going through 
Mr. Bartram’s collection with him. He has a genuine female 
specimen, shot with powdered rice by himself close to his house, 
his attention having been called to the diminutive stranger by one 
of his labourers, who thought it was a large moth. Two others 
were seen at the same time, but not obtained. How these little 
birds got to Bermuda is a marvel. They have powerful wings for 
their size, calculated to keep up that humming vibratory motion 
necessary for their mode of feeding; but one would think that such 
a long flight across the sea would induce weariness in so small a 
frame, and leave them at the mercy of the winds and waves. 
Ceryle alcyon, Belted Kingfisher.—* These birds arrive regularly 
about the middle of September, and are to be found in all the 
mangrove swamps, creeks, and ponds in the islands. Many remain 
during the winter, but they all disappear about the middle of April” 
(Nat. in B., p. 33). I have seen these birds as late as the 26th 
April, and at one time thought they must occasionally remain to 
breed; but after much careful watching, in which I was assisted 
by my friends, I came to the conclusion that they all depart, sooner 
or later, to breed on the North American continent. Hungry Bay 
is a favourite resort of these fine birds. I have seen six or seven 
