80 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BERMUDAS. 



the arched entrance of the keep. This it quitted imme- 

 diately, and was soon afterwards shot by Mr. Wedderburn. 

 It proved to be the " Frigate Bird " ( Tachypetes aquilus) of 

 Audubon. Length, thirty-three inches ; extent, seventy- 

 seven inches ; carpal joint, twenty-three and five-tenth 

 inches ; bill, to the gape, five inches. This is probably a 

 small specimen. It was in moult, some of the quill feathers 

 not having attained their full growth. This is another 

 addition to our Bermuda birds. 



Saw two strange birds near my house early this morning, 

 and went after them with my gun. They were fired at by 

 •my neighbour, Mr. Fozard, and escaped. I am disposed to 

 think they belong to the Finch family. 



I hear of several Kingfishers having been seen within the 

 last few days, of two being shot ; of a Qua-bird, killed by 

 Mr. McLeod, of the 42nd, at St. George's two days ago, 

 and Mr. Wedderburn mentions meeting with several Night 

 Hawks at the keep, Ireland Island, sitting on the guns. 



Visited Harris' Pond and the vicinity. Saw five Tell- 

 tale Godwits, a few Pectoral Sandpipers, and some Semi- 

 palmated and Spotted ditto. Shot one Pectoral only. 

 Length, seven and a half inches. 



September 30th, 1848. — Mr. Wedderburn shot another 

 Frigate Bird this morning, which he brought over alive. It 

 is supposed to be a female, and has the head and lower 

 parts white. (Gosse says this is the plumage of the young 

 bird.) Upper parts, brown ; bill, light blue, ending in white 



