NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BERMUDAS. 73 



Attgttst 22nd, 1848. — Saw Mr. Wedderburn this morning, 

 who tells me a remarkably fine specimen of the Turnstone 

 (Strepsilas intcrpres), was killed by Lieutenant Cockburn, 

 42nd Highlanders, and sent to him yesterday. It was one 

 of five, supposed to be part of a flock of fourteen seen in 

 the neighbourhood of Ireland Island. 



Flocks of Plover — supposed to be the Golden species — 

 have been observed by several gentlemen within the last 

 week or ten days, passing to the southward at a con- 

 siderable elevation ; in one instance (on the 19th), the flock 

 was supposed to number a hundred birds. At night also, 

 when the stars are shining brightly and the breeze is 

 hushed, an occasional flock of birds may be distinctly 

 heard passing in the same direction and apparently at a 

 similar elevation. These I presume to be of the same 

 species. It is the whistling note, multiplied by numbers, 

 which one hears and which reminds one of a flock of Siskins 

 moving from hedgerow to hedgerow in the old country. 

 This is the middle of our hottest season. Thermometer, 

 82 to 86°. 



August 24?//, 1848. — Visited the Marshes, near Mr. 

 Marriott's, in search of a "strange bird," reported by that 

 gentleman. Met with several Yellow-shanks and Spotted 

 Sandpipers. Killed specimens of the two latter. Saw 



nothing of the stranger. 



Hear from Mr. Downes, of the Commissariat, that he saw 

 two Swallows flying about his house yesterday, in Hamilton. 

 Though I keep a sharp look out, I have not seen one of the 

 Swallow kind this season. 



