20 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BERMUDAS. 



soft and velvet-like appearance of these elegantly marked 

 feathers has a very beautiful effect. 

 As I anticipated, this proved to be a male bird. 



February 8th, 1847. — Examined a specimen of the 

 Linaria minor, or Lesser Redpole. This was one, of three 

 birds seen in the garden of Colonel Hutchinson ; it was 

 shot by Dr. Cole, who reported the remaining two as pre- 

 cisely similar. The red patch on the head was very full 

 and distinct, and a few small patches of red were visible 

 on the rump, but I could perceive none upon the breast. 



This bird feeds on the ripe berries of the sage bush. 



March 17 th, 1847. — When shooting specimens of the 

 Red and Blue Birds for a friend, I have lately observed a 

 Shrike [Lanius borealis) haunting the low grounds of 

 Mount Langton. On one occasion he was busily engaged 

 in chasing a small bird, and only relinquished his pursuit 

 when fired at. 



The Tropic Bird {Phaeton cethereus) is frequently to be 

 met with in the Bermudas during the summer months. It 

 breeds in holes among the rocks or rocky banks of the sea- 

 shore, and when discovered on its nest will allow itself to 

 be taken by the hand— not, however without resistance ; 

 both male and female are captured in this manner. It 

 makes no nest, but having selected a hole or cavity in the 

 rock— sometimes elevated, and at others merely beyond 

 the reach of the waves— invariably lays a single egg. The 

 egg varies in colour, specimens being of a reddish grey, 

 thickly covered with streaks and blotches of Indian red, 

 deepest at the larger end ; others are of a drab colour, 

 finely speckled with the same deep red. 



