210 BIRDS OF BERMUDA. 
house, where it was busily employed entering the large white bell- 
shaped flowers of the giant Stramonium, its tail only at times being 
visible. Another was seen about the same time, and within about 2 
miles of the same place, by a Miss Watson, in her brother’s garden.” 
Referring to the above, Mr. Hurdis says: ‘‘ My endeavors to ascertain 
the truth of the tradition alluded to by Colonel Wedderburn ended in 
disappointment. The bird seen by Mr. Darrell was described to me as 
greenish in color, with the tail—the only part visible at times—tipped 
with white. I need not observe that this characteristic appertains to the 
female.” I was, therefore, much pleased to establish its occurrence be- 
yond a doubt, when going through Mr. Bartram’s collection with him. 
He has a genuine female specimen, shot with powdered rice by himself 
close to his house, his attention having been called to the diminutive 
stranger by one of his laborers, who thought it was a large moth. Two 
others were seen at the same time, but not obtained. How these little 
birds got to Bermuda is a marvel. They have powerful wings for 
their size, calculated to keep up that humming vibratory motion neces- 
sary for their mode of feeding; but one would think that such a long 
flight across the sea would induce weariness in so small a frame, and 
leave them at the mercy of the winds and waves. 
Family ALCEDINID/A. 
Genus CERYLE, Boie. 
66. Ceryle alcyon, (Linn.) Boie. Belted Kingfisher. 
Alcedo alcyon, Linn., Gm., Lath., Vieil., Wils., Bp., Sw. & Rich., Aud., Nutt., 
Gir., Maxim., Trippe. 
Ceryle alcyon, Boie., Bp., Gray, and authors generally. 
Ispida alcyon, Sw. 
Megaceryle alcyon, Reich. 
Chlorosceryle aleyon, Scl. 
Alcedo ludoviciana, Gm. 
Length of adult, 12.75; wing, 6.00. 
Hab.—Over the waters of all North and Middle America and many of 
the West Indian Islands; resident or imperfectly migratory, being in 
the north forced away by the freezing of the waters; accidental in Ire- 
land. (Coues.) 
‘These birds arrive regularly about the middle of September, and are 
to be found in all the mangrove swamps, creeks, and ponds in the islands. 
Many remain during the winter, but they all disappear about the middle 
of April” (Nat.in B., p. 33). Ihave seen these birds as late as the 26th 7} 
