NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BERMUDAS. 9 



The American Bittern (Ardea lentiginosa) is not unfre- 

 quently to be met with in the marshes of Bermuda. I 

 have seen several specimens of this bird, shot by my 

 neighbours this autumn. 



Two or three specimens of the young of the American 

 Night Heron or Qua Bird (Ardea nycttcorax) have also 

 come under my observation lately, but I have never seen 

 this bird in its full plumage ! How is this to be accounted 

 for? 



November ist, 1846. — Saw the skin of a Long-eared 

 Owl (Otus vulgaris) that was shot at Gibbs Hill, and 

 sent in to Dr. Cole by the sergeant there stationed. 



November 24th, 1846. — Saw a specimen of the Grebe 

 family, shot by Dr. Cole, 20th Regiment. 



It measured fifteen and a half inches in length, and 

 eighteen inches in breadth. Upper parts, brown ; chin, 

 breast, and belly, of a silvery white; the under side of 

 the neck shaded with brown ; feet, dark olive green and 

 palmated ; legs very flat. This bird is not described by 

 Wilson ; I consider it to be the Podiceps comutus of 

 Yarrell, or Horned Grebe of Audubon, in its winter 

 plumage. 



November 24*/*. — Examined a Duck which had been 

 shot by Dr. Cole. It measured sixteen inches in length, 

 twenty-six in breadth. Feet, dirty yellow, with brown 

 webs; head, dark chestnut brown, darkest between the 

 eyes and bill, somewhat tufted ; belly and breast, white ; 

 back and wing coverts of the same, dark brown ; second- 

 aries, white ; coverts above also mottled with white ; 

 neck, shaded with brown ; bill, yellowish brown ; legs, flat 

 and placed far back. Is not this a specimen ^female) of 



