NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BERMUDAS. I05 



The Rev. H. B. Tristram writes to me from the Dock- 

 yard, saying that a splendid live specimen of the Purple 

 Gallinule {Gallinula martinicd) was brought to him this 

 morning by a sapper, and that there were several others 

 of the same species in company on the breakwater, where 

 this was taken. 



He also reports " numbers " of Night Hawks (Chordeiles 

 virginianus) to have made their appearance at Ireland 

 Island. An Osprey and a Pigeon Hawk had also been 

 seen. 



Mr. Orde, 42nd Highlanders, killed two Green Herons 

 {Ardea virescens) this afternoon, in full plumage, extremely 

 beautiful, and very different from the autumn birds. 



April 2$rd. — A strange bird, reported by Mr. Marriott 

 as having been seen by himself and his neighbours fre- 

 quenting the cedar groves in the vicinity of Paget's 

 Church. It is said to be brown, mottled with whitish 

 spots ; larger than any barn-door fowl, and of strong 

 flight ; perching in trees when disturbed ! As there are 

 some domestic fowls living in a wild state in that neigh- 

 bourhood, I was almost disposed to think that one of them 

 had been mistaken for the supposed stranger, but the 

 parties will not for a moment allow it to be possible. 



Went out this afternoon with Marriott and Fozard. 

 Saw five or six Night Hawks feeding over the Chief 

 Justice's Pond, three of which, all males, were killed. Saw 

 nothing of the strange bird. 



April 2\th. — Received another note from the Rev. H. 

 B. Tristram, dated the 21st (Saturday), mentioning his 



