106 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BERMUDAS. 



having shot a new bird, the Blue Yellow-backed Wood 

 Warbler (Sylvicola americand), a beautiful male specimen 

 in full plumage, though much injured by the shot. 



He also mentions having seen another " Warbler '' and 

 two Purple Gallinules in the dockyard on the same occa- 

 sion. Also that he had a Carolina Crake alive in a bird- 

 cage. 



Heard from the Colonial Treasurer, and also from his 

 son, that two yellow-legged birds were seen by them 

 wading about Warwick Church Pond this morning. From 

 the description given, I am inclined to think they must be 

 Green Herons. 



April 26th. — Visited the pond and marshes near War- 

 wick Church. Shot a Carolina Crake {Ortygometra caro- 

 linus), and a bird which I took to be the common Gallinule, 

 but which I lost in the dense growth of reeds and rushes, 

 although I had a setter with me. A bird entirely new to me 

 got up, wild and solitary, from a small pond in this thick 

 cover. I fired, though it was hardly within range, and was 

 struck with the beauty of its plumage, which appeared to 

 be of a dark indigo blue, glossed or shot with green. As it 

 rose over the hill before me, with the bright sun shining on 

 its back and wings, I can speak most positively on this 

 point. In size it was somewhat less than the American 

 Bittern, and its flight similar to that of the Heron tribe. 



Mr. Hodgson Smith wrote me word yesterday that he 

 had seen a rare bird of a large size, and of a dark blue 

 colour ; probably of the same species. Now, the only bird 

 answering to this description is the Glossy Ibis {Ibis falci- 

 nellus of Audubon), and I very much regret that no speci- 

 men has yet been obtained to place this discovery beyond 

 all doubt. Saw a Green Heron at the pond, and followed 



