26 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BERMUDAS. 



description. This is the second bird of the kind killed by 

 Mr. Wedderburn within a month. Length, seven and a 

 half inches. 



August Jth, 1847. — Was shown a specimen of the Tota- 

 nus flavipes, or Yellow-Shanks Tattler, by Lieutenant 

 Wedderburn, 42nd Highlanders, which was caught in a 

 state of exhaustion on the shore of Ireland Island on the 

 31st of last month. Yesterday one of these birds was shot 

 in the neighbourhood, and to-day two others have been 

 observed in the same pond. As these birds are not known 

 to breed here, I conclude that they are now migrating to 

 the southward, and, notwithstanding the prevalence of 

 easterly winds, have found their way to this isolated spot. 



August gth, 1847.— Mr. O'Reilly tells me that on his way 

 • to Mrs. Saltan's on Saturday last, he observed several 

 birds sitting on the branch of a dead tree, which for some 

 time he took for the Common Blue-birds of the colony, 

 but on approaching within a few yards he was surprised to 

 find they were ten Swallows (in colour and appearance like 

 the Chimney Swallow of Europe). They appeared to be 

 resting and pluming themselves as if they had recently 

 arrived from the northward. 



Mr. Wedderburn also tells me he saw two Swallows 

 at Ireland Island a few days since, and Mr. Marriott states 

 that he saw yesterday (Sunday) near his house, two Martins, 

 which, of course, were not molested. Are not these un- 

 usual occurrences, and do they not indicate the approach 

 of that season of general migration which may be said to 

 commence in September ? 



August 10th, 1847. — Visited the neighbourhood of Mr. 



