NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BERMUDAS. IOQ 



as well as the male," and was therefore much surprised, 

 while taking a walk near Mount Langton, this evening, to 

 hear the notes of this bird proceed from what certainly ap- 

 peared to be a female. It is impossible to mistake the 

 brilliant red of the male for the russet garb of the female 

 at this season of the year, when these birds are in full 

 plumage, and busily engaged in rearing their young. (I 

 had just before found a Red Bird's nest, containing three 

 eggs.) This bird sent forth its song from the top of a 

 cedar within shot, and I regretted having no gun with me, 

 that I might have ascertained by dissection and placed 

 beyond doubt the truth or otherwise of Wilson's assertion. 



May ijth. — Lieutenants Orde and McLeod, 42nd High- 

 landers, returned to Hamilton this evening from a visit to 

 the Black Rock, opposite the entrance to Castle Harbour. 

 They landed there without difficulty, in the forenoon, and 

 upon a ledge about half-way to the summit, captured two 

 fine specimens of the genus Puffinus, or Shearwater, one of 

 which was sitting upon a single egg, the other had nothing 

 under it. Both of these birds were found in holes of the 

 Rock, and allowed themselves to be captured by the hand. 



A young bird was also found upon the same rock ; it ap- 

 peared to be the same species, and was covered with black 

 down. This was not disturbed. 



Carefully examined the specimens brought in, of which 

 the dimensions were as follows : — Length, upwards of 

 thirteen inches ; extent, twenty-six and three-tenths inches ; 

 bill from the forehead, one and one-tenth inches ; from the 

 gape, one and six-tenths inches ; carpal joint, eight inches ; 

 tarsus, one and five-tenths inches ; second quill longest ; 

 bill, light bluish lead colour ; both mandibles decurved at 



