270 A, E. Verrill—The Bermuda Islands. 682 
islands at that time. Capt. Reid noticed a few pairs breeding, and 
found one or two nests in April, 1875. He mentions seeing as many 
as 16 ina flock. It has been stated, but without good evidence, that 
it was introduced from Nova Scotia about 1846, but it certainly 
existed here long before. Whether the species had been entirely 
exterminated here before that date is not known. It is more likely — 
that the few individuals left were so wary and shy that they were 
seldom seen. 
In 1881 the legislature offered a bounty for their destruction (see 
p- 680), which seems to us a very mistaken policy, for they destroy 
large numbers of noxious insects and insect larve, thus doing much 
more good than harm, 
In 1901 we saw very few crows, and the species is evidently 
rapidly disappearing from the islands. 
30.—Partial Extermination of the Whales. 
a.—The Hump-back Whale (Megaptera bobps (L.) or M. nodosa 
Bonnat.) 
Fieure 44. 
According to the early writers whales were at first very abundant 
and tame about the Bermudas. The common species was the Hump- 
back Whale, which arrived here about the last of February or first 
of March, during its northward migrations, and remained till about 
the Ist of June. Most of these were females, accompanied by a 
suckling “cub,” 15 to 30 feet long. 
Figure 44.—Hump-back Whale (Megaptera bodps L. or M. nodosa Bonnat.). 
After G. O. Sars. 
But the Biscay Right Whale was also sometimes seen here, and 
occasionally a ‘“ Fin-back,” but the latter was seldom if ever taken, 
on account of its pugnacity. The Sperm Whale was also common, 
though never abundant. In the 17th century it was rarely taken, 
but in the 18th century many were killed. At the present time all 
