NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BERMUDAS. 41 



but failed in his object of obtaining prey. I watched at the 

 open window with my gun, for an hour afterwards, in the 

 vain hope of his return, but saw it no more. 



I find, on examination, that the very elegant little bird 

 shot yesterday by Mr. Wedderburn, is the Yellow- breasted 

 Rail, or Ortygometra noveboracensis of Audubon. This 

 specimen measured seven and a half inches in length, and 

 is the only one of the kind I have seen in Bermuda, or 

 indeed elsewhere. 



Saw a fine male specimen of the Carolina Crake Gallinule 

 {Ortygometra carolinus), showing the broad band of black 

 round the base of the bill ; this band was connected with a 

 line of black extending from the chin downwards, dis- 

 appearing on the breast. A broad stripe of the same colour 

 passed longitudinally over the crown of the head. 



Among the unusual variety of American birds that have 

 visited these islands during the present autumn, I was 

 pleased to find the Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus ameri- 

 canus of Audubon), a fine living specimen of which has been 

 taken at Ireland Island, and was yesterday forwarded to 

 Mr. Wedderburn by Dr. Blake, of the Medical Staff. 



The Night Hawk is now so common every evening at 

 sunset, that the boys amuse themselves by shooting at them. 



October \%th, 1847. — Sallied forth at break of day and 

 killed one Snipe, two Crake Gallinules, and a Night Heron, 

 in the spotted plumage of the young, which latter was sent 

 to the Rev. H. B. Tristram. 



