l6 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BERMUDAS. 



The Chordeiles virginianus, or Night Hawk, is one of the 

 few birds which visit the Bermudas during the spring and 

 autumn. It is generally seen alone, though I once saw 

 two or three together on the same evening. Considering 

 the very great abundance of this bird in the North Ameri- 

 can Colonies, I am surprised that so few are to be met with 

 here. 



The Turnstone, Strepsilus interpres of Audubon, and 

 Kay's " New York Zoology." Examined a specimen of this 

 bird shot by Mr. Abbot, 20th Regiment. It measured nine 

 inches long, and eighteen and a half inches in breadth. 

 Tail, consisting of twelve feathers, white, broadly barred 

 with blackish brown towards the end ; the tips white, shafts 

 of the primaries also white. The dark plumage on each 

 side of the breast protuberant or ruffed. 



Two others shot in the same flock, differed more or 

 less in their plumage. These I considered to be young 

 birds. 



On referring to Audubon's " Synopsis," and De Kay's 

 " New York Fauna," I find the description of this bird agrees 

 with the foregoing remarks, the ruffed appearance of the 

 breast alone excepted. 



This elegant bird visits the Bermudas annually, and is 

 one of the most common of the Plover tribe seen upon its 

 shores. 



January $tk, 1847. — Examined a specimen of the Water 

 Thrush, described by Audubon as the Simrus novebora- 

 cencis, or Aquatic Wood Wagtail. It measured five and 

 three-quarter inches in length, by nine and a half in breadth. 

 This bird was shot by Mr. Abbot, and is the second I have 

 seen this winter. The former was killed by Dr. Cole. 



