Troplc-lirds in Bermuda. 557 



bordered road is surely delightful and amusing, for the bus 

 carries anything and everytliing — passengers, black and 

 white, crates of live fowls, onions, baby-bnggies, groceries, 

 &c. — all jumbled in regardless, and the merchandise is 

 delivered along the road. 



At St. George's I became acquainted with a gentleman 

 whose son was caretaker of one of the larger islands in 

 Castle Harbour, which lies just beyond St. George's Harbour. 

 It is studded with many islands, on which the " long-tails '' 

 are very numerous. After my assuring him that I did not 

 want the birds for millinery purposes, he agreed to speak to 

 his son and arrange for me to go over to the island, where 

 I could study the birds to advantage. 



A few days later, during which we had a terrific wind- 

 storm, I started for the island. Taking a ferry-boat over 

 to St. David's, I walked across that island, following a 

 narrow footpath, which led past a swanapy tract where I saw 

 an American Egret, a rare visitor to Bermuda. On reaching 

 the shore I met the gentleman in his motor-boat, and we 

 started off. Suddenly the power gave out, and after several 

 hours of paddling in the choppy sea, we drew near to the 

 island with its forbidding cliffs. I wondered where we 

 would land, but soon saw a concrete dock with stairs which 

 led to the top of the cliffs. Here we found my friend's 

 wife and family, and a charming little cottage and garden 

 overlooking the sea. There were several of the dainty English 

 Goldfinches flitting about. They are quite abundant in 

 Bermuda, and their cheerful song is very pleasant to hear. 



After a refreshing lunch, we started in a row-boat for one 

 of the numerous small islands close by. It was difficult to 

 keep a straight course, and as we drew near to our destina- 

 tion, it became a problem as to how we would land. The 

 huge waves would dash us in with great danger of smashing 

 the boat, and then quickly sweep us out again. We finally 

 decided that I was to throw my sketching materials and 

 camera on to one of the flat rocks above the line of the surf 

 and then jump. I succeeded in the first well enough, but 

 before I had time to jump, another wave came from behind 



SER. X. VOL. II. 2 p 



