108 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BERMUDAS. 



hour hunting the rocks, and returned without finding a 

 single nest. Saw one Tropic Bird at a distance on the 

 wing. 



Landed and gave chase to a Green Heron on James' 

 Island, on our way down. It escaped to an island at some 

 distance. 



At this season of the year small patches of barley, ripe, 

 or nearly so, may occasionally be seen standing near some 

 of the cottages. On passing one of these patches, in the 

 vicinity of Gibbs Hill to-day, Mr. Orde observed two birds, 

 each suspended by the legs to a stick, and was shocked, on 

 a closer inspection, to find they were Tropic Birds in a 

 living state. He inquired of the good woman of the house 

 the reason of their being placed in that situation. She 

 informed him they were hung up as scarecrows, to keep 

 away the chickens which invaded her ripe barley. The 

 unfortunate birds were immediately released by Mr. Orde, 

 and once more winged their way to the wide ocean, leaving 

 their benefactor to bear the brunt of a severe scolding 

 from the good dame, who dared him to prosecute her for 

 cruelty. 



May 14th. — Saw the entire skeleton of a Yellow-billed 

 Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus), which was found yesterday 

 washed on shore, near Hungry Bay, by Mr. Marriott. The 

 tail was perfect, and most of the larger feathers of the 

 wings. It had probably perished at sea on its vernal flight 

 to the North. 



May \6tk. — I have always doubted the correctness of 

 Wilson's statement that the female of the Pitylus cardi- 

 nalis (or " Red Bird " of these islands) "often sings nearly 



