100 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BERMUDAS. 



Went out this evening and searched all the ponds and 

 mangrove creeks in that vicinity. Met with a Kingfisher 

 only. 



February \^th. — Darwin, who visited the Galapagos 

 Islands (immediately under the equator) in Her Majesty's 

 brig " Beagle," between September 17th and October 20th, 

 mentions the Rice Bird {Dolichonyx oryzivord) as the only 

 North-American bird there met with. This is the most 

 southern range of the Rice Bird yet observed. Gosse 

 describes them as visiting the Island of Jamaica in vast 

 numbers during the month of October. " Early in Novem- 

 ber," he says, " they depart for the southern continent. They 

 usually return in the month of April for a few days, on the 

 northward migration, when the males are conspicuous in 

 their nuptial dress.'' 



During the present month two Shrikes (of grey plumage 

 and undulating flight) have been reported to me as being 

 met with in different parts of the Islands. Also one Owl, 

 about the size of a Pigeon, and a small Hawk. Have been 

 too much occupied with the performance of official duties 

 to seek them. Mr. Wedderburn sailed for England, vid 

 Halifax, on the 16th instant. 



March \Jth, 1849. — Several of the Gull species have 

 been noticed about Hamilton Water during the last few 

 days, and this evening Mr. Fozard brought in a beautiful 

 specimen shot in the harbour. It proved to be Larus 

 tridaclylus, or Kittiwake Gull, in mature plumage ; the 

 bill being greenish yellow, the tail pure white, and the back 

 of the head somewhat tinged with pearl grey, darkest on 

 the auriculars. It measured sixteen and a half inches in 



