268 A. E. Verrill—The Bermuda Islands. 680 
its name (as I think) by reason it is never seene, either to the north- 
ward or southward, far distant from one of the two tropicks.” 
That it was called “‘ Boatswain Bird” by the early settlers is evident, 
for it gave that name* to a small island near Spanish Point where it 
nested. This name appears on various maps, including the Admir- 
alty chart of 1874. 
As the flesh and eggs of the Tropic Bird are scarcely edible, it 
never was destroyed to any great extent for food. At one time, 
some twenty years ago, it was in some danger of extermination for 
millinery purposes. But it has been pretty well protected by the 
laws in recent years.t Still it is probably far less abundant than in 
the early times of the colony. 
Mr. A. H. Verrill found, in 1901, large numbers of the very 
injurious “Spiral Snail” (Rumina decollata) in the stomachs of some 
specimens, in April, together with broken sea-urchins and the remains 
of fishes. If it has acquired a decided taste for this snail, as indi- 
cated by these instances, it will prove a great blessing to the farmers, 
for the snail is very prolific and has few natural enemies, so that it 
has already rapidly spread over all the Main Island. On some occa- 
sions it was seen in the act of eating the snails. 
Contrary to the statements of several writers, we often saw these 
birds swimming on the surface of the water. We estimated that 
there may have been 2,000 pairs breeding about the islands in 1901. 
j.—The Herons and Egrets. 
The early writers speak of herons as abundant and breeding — 
especially the White Herons. Probably both the White Egret 
(Ardea egretta) and the Snowy Heron (Ardea candidissima) were 
breeding there at first, as well as the Great Blue Heron (Ardea 
herodias), which has been found breeding occasionally in modern 
times. The white herons still occur, but probably rarely breed. 
Strachy’s account is as follows: “There are also great store and 
plenty of Herons and those are so familiar and tame, that we beate 
them downe from the trees with stones and staves: but, such were 
* On some modern maps the name of this island has been corrupted to 
‘¢ Boasting Bird Island.” 
+ A law passed in 1881 imposes a fine of £5 and costs for killing any one of 
the various singing birds (enumerated), resident game birds, long-tail, crane or 
heron, woodpecker, kingfisher, etc.; and a fine of 5:4 and cost for every egg 
taken or destroyed. The same law offers a premium of 48" for every crow 
destroyed, and 1: for every crow egg destroyed. 
