NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BERMUDAS. 57 



length, and thirty-six inches in extent. Wing, eleven and 

 a half inches, and when closed nearly an inch and a half 

 longer than the tail. Bill measured above an inch ; colour 

 black ; eyes, black ; legs and feet (or, rather, foot, for this 

 bird had lost one), dusky brown ; the hind toe very small, 

 with a minute knob in place of a claw. In all other respects 

 the plumage agreed with Audubon's account of this bird, 

 save that the tail, consisting of twelve feathers, appeared 

 somewhat forked when closed, though not so when ex- 

 panded, and that the two outer and one of the intermediate 

 feathers of the same were pure white, proof of the change 

 from the imperfect plumage of the young bird to that of the 

 adult. This is a new bird for our list, and is supposed to 

 have been seen a month ago. 



January 6th, 1848. — Both yesterday and to-day I have 

 observed the Blue-birds (Sialia wilsonii), unusually nume- 

 rous in the immediate vicinity of my house. Why they 

 congregate in such numbers I know not. The cedar trees 

 appear to be the chief object of their attention, dozens of 

 birds clustering about the upper branches of certain trees 

 near the house, apparently intent on the capture of some 

 insects or larvae. The weather on both days bright and 

 warm. 



January 13th, 1848. — Visited the ponds near the sluice- 

 gates this afternoon in search of Ducks said to have been 

 seen there. Saw none. Found the Blue-birds uncommonly 

 numerous from Hamilton to Pembroke Church, and from 

 thence all along the road to the hill leading to the Admiral's, 

 a distance of two miles ; the cedars were teeming with their 

 numbers in a sort of scattered flock. 



Returned home along the north shore and across the 

 Governor's Marsh. At the latter saw a flock of Blue-birds 



