150 Notes on the Bermudas. 



Eed Bird ; the Vireo Noveboracensis, or Chick of the Village; 

 the Corvus Americanus, or American Crow ; the Gallinula Chlo- 

 roporus, or Common Moorhen ; the Perdix Virginianus, or Vir- 

 ginia Qu^iil, nearly extinct. It was abundant formerly when 

 barley was more cultivated, but now it is probably a bird of pas- 

 sage. The summer residents are, the Phieton Aetherius, or Long- 

 tail ; the Sterua Dougallii, or Roseate Tern, and the S. Anglica, 

 or Mavsh Tern. There are, besides these, a large number of au- 

 tumnal and winter visitants, some of which revisit the islands in 

 spring on their vjray to the north. Among these are the American 

 Swallow and the Bank Swallow, the Snowy Owl, the Cedar Wax- 

 wing, the Sandpiper, the American Woodcock, the Black-crowned 

 Night Heron, the great White Heron and the Green Heron, the 

 Canada Goose, nine species of the Duck tribe, several species 

 of Gulls, and the Thalassidroma Wilsonii or Mother Carry's Chick- 

 en. To these may be added, the Coliow, a bird of historic note 

 in the early Chronicles of Bermuda, but now nearly extinct. A 

 few pairs were seen some years ago, but no specimens are known 

 to exist, and the vague descriptions of fishermen do not afford 

 any clue by which to determine the species of this nocturnal bird. 

 Having said so much about the earth and the air, the sea now 

 claims our attention as not less, if not more, prolific of life than 

 the others. In the lower forms of life, on the line which bounds 

 the animal and vegetable kingdoms, there are several striking ex- 

 amples to be found in these islands. In the class Porifera or 

 Sponges there are several curious varieties. The most fiequently 

 met with as well as the largest, is S. fistularis. In the Polypi or 

 lowest class of the Radiate sub-kingdom, there are innumerable 

 examples and a great variety of species. In the Anthozoa divi- 

 sion especially, the Hydroida, Helianthoida and Asteroida, are nu- 

 merous and beautiful. These are the great Contractors by which 

 the islands have been erected without cost or trouble to the 

 proprietors. Night and day, with unwearied activity, many spe- 

 cies of this class are converting the inorganic elements of the 

 sea into " this too solid earth." The Pharoahs who built the 

 Pyramids had not such a host as these at their command. Already 

 they have achieved a victory over the turbulent sea, and if the 

 world lasts as loug again as it has done, they are destined largely 

 to alter the face of nature on the seas. Their beautiful forms, 

 their graceful movements, and thair curious habits are a source 

 of infinite delight to those who love to contemplate the wealth of 



