THE BIRDS OF THE BERMUDAS. 419 
there together, chasing one another, darting at the little fish in the 
pools, and uttering their harsh, rattling cry. They affect the same 
hunting grounds, especially those birds that remain for the winter, 
and day after day, as one drives past the creeks and sheltered bays. 
one sees the same solemn-looking individual on the accustomed 
rock or cedar-bough, one eye on the fish in the water below, the 
other on the passers by. 
Coccyzus erythrophihalmus, Black-billed Cuckoo.— The first 
example recorded was shot by Gibbs early in October, 1874, at the 
same time as a number of the succeeding species, C. americanus, 
from which its smaller bill, less white on the tips of the tail-feathers, 
and red ring round the eye, at once distinguish it. Mr. Bartram 
also obtained a specimen that autumn, and I found two others in 
his collection, labelled C. americanus. I saw one near Devonshire 
Bay on the 19th April, 1875, and one (probably the same) was 
brought to me on the 30th of that month from Hungry Bay. 
Lieut. Hopegood, of the 97th Regiment, shot one of a pair ina 
potato-field near Devonshire Bay on the 8th May, 1875. I imagine 
this species has occurred more frequently than the records tend 
to show, not having been distinguished from its Jarger-billed 
congener. 
Coccyzus americanus, Yellow-billed Cuckoo.—A few specimens 
only are recorded previous to the 9th October, 1849, when an 
extraordinary invasion took place. Thousands of these birds 
suddenly appeared in all parts of the islands, most of them 
departing as suddenly the next day. A few were seen in April, 
1852. They were numerous from the 12th to the 15th of October, 
1874, and a few remained behind for some time. I shot one near 
Devonshire Bay, in a potato-field, on the 7th November: its 
stomach (like that of other specimens examined) was full of green 
caterpillars collected from the leaves of the potatoes. I was very 
angry with myself for having killed the poor bird when doing such 
good service. 
Sphyrapicus varius, Yellow-bellied Woodpecker.—Of this spe- 
cies Major Wedderburn says:—“In general not very common. 
I first saw it in December, 1847; again in November, 1848; and 
in April, 1850, a great many suddenly appeared, several of which 
I shot. Many of the palmetto trees are bored by this bird. 
It breeds in Mr. Ballinghall’s garden every year, and | should 
think that a few also breed in holes in the large trees at Brackish 
