THE BIRDS OF THE BERMUDAS. 423 
niobled off short by rats, appears to belong here. Its measurements 
and fully-feathered tarsi are, [ think, unmistakable. The bird was 
originally dubbed an “ Eagle.” It was shot near Prospect Camp 
by a medical gentleman, who gave it to Mr Bartram. 
Pandion haliaétus, Osprey —The movements of this cosmo- 
politan species in Bermuda are somewhat mysterious. In 1874 I 
saw the first on April 22nd; in 1875 one was observed on the 
17th of that month. During May they are often to be seen, 
especially about the Great Sound, along the south shore, and at 
Peniston’s Pond; but whether these are old or young birds I 
cannot say, as I religiously abstained from shooting one. During 
the summer months I lost sight of them, though I believe they 
were occasionally observed; but in autumn I met with one or two 
specimens. On May 2nd, 1875, I watched for some time two of 
these fine birds circling over Devonshire Swamp. This gave rise 
to the question, “‘ Do they breed here?” I took eggs in Southern 
Spain, slightly incubated, on March 29th, and, there being but 
little difference of latitude between the two places, it would be 
only natural to suppose that, if they were going to nest in Bermuda, 
they would have arrived earlier. Probably, therefore, they are 
young birds from early nests on the southern continent, or Gulf of 
Mexico. I could hear nothing of nests in former years. I must 
leave the question to be solved by future visitors to the islands. 
Haliaétus leucocephalus, White-headed Eagle; Bald Eagle.— 
“ Uncle Sam’s bird” has only once been known to favour Bermuda 
with a visit. He was not obtained, but was well seen by Mr. 
Hurdis and by other witnesses. 
Cathartes aura, Turkey Buzzard.—A male of this ill-favoured 
species appeared during the yellow-fever epidemic of 1853. Was 
its coming accidental, or did some marvellous instinct lead it 
there? It was shot in the latter part of November, and subse- 
quently examined by Mr. Hurdis. 
Ectopistes migralorius, Passenger Pigeon.—Major Wedderburn 
records that one was seen by Dr. Cole; but no date is given. Mr. 
Bartram shot one as he lay on a sofa in his museum with “broken- 
bone” fever, on October 24th, 1863: it was sitting on a tree close 
to his house. My friend Mr. J. M. Jones was informed by Mr. J. 
H. Trott that, previous to 1831, small parties of these birds were 
resident in the islands, breeding in the caves at Walsingham and 
along the south shore; but 1 am inclined to think, with all 
