480 THE ZOOLOGIST.. 
It may therefore be considered both a vernal and autumnal visitor 
to the Bermudas. Three of the spring specimens were beautiful 
exemplifications of the change from the white plumage of the 
young to the rich vinous purple of the adult bird.” Several of 
these examples are alluded to by Major Wedderburn in_his notes. 
I do not think the bird visits the islands regularly. I obtained a 
beautiful male from Hungry Bay on the 4th May, 1875. It was in 
company with a white bird, perhaps an immature specimen of the 
same species. 
Ardea virescens, Green Heron.—Also occurs on both migrations, 
sometimes in considerable numbers in the spring, frequenting the 
dense mangroves, and being uncommonly hard to obtain. Lieut. 
Denison and I each shot two beautiful specimens in April, 1875. 
Nyctiardea grisea (var. nevia), Night Heron; Qua-bird.—Im- 
mature birds are not uncommon in the larger mangrove swamps in 
the autumn and winter, but none have vet been obtained in adult 
plumage. One examined by Mr. Hurdis, shot on the 9th February, 
had the irides bright carmine, and the long filamentous plumes’ of 
the occiput beginning to appear. These birds sit motionless among 
the mangroves, and when disturbed fly into the tops of the thickest 
trees, whence they are very hard to dislodge. 
Nyctiardea violacea, Yellow-crowned Night Heron.—Unlike its 
congener, this Heron has occurred in the plumage of the adult. 
Mr. Bartram has obtained several fine specimens. I obtained two 
myself, but both were in the spotted garb of youth. There is 
a great similarity between the young of these two species, but 
violacea may always be distinguished, in any plumage, by its longer 
tarsus and shorter bill. Occurs pretty regularly in small numbers, 
usually in autumn, but occasionally in spring. One of my specimens 
was shot as early as the 3rd August. 
Botaurus minor, American Bittern.—A regular visitor in the 
autumn, and occasionally in March, frequenting the sedgy patches 
on the edges of the mangrove swamps. Mr. Hurdis says, “The 
stomach of one, shot in the Pembroke Marshes, contained an eel 
six inches long, a mouse, a dragonfly, a grasshopper, and part of a 
small golden carp.” [No less than thirteen were shot by one officer, 
whose name I hesitate to mention, in the autumn of 1875.—H. D.]) 
Ardetla exilis, Least Bittern.—Has occurred both in spring and 
autumn, but, from its frequenting the thick mangrove swamps and 
hiding among their tangled roots, has not very often been obtained. 
