I46 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BERMUDAS. 



to which it might belong, and was almost inclined to think 

 it appertained to the domestic family. Mr. Wedderburn 

 examined the bird with no better success. I therefore cut 

 the feathers of one wing, and placed the duck in hospital, 

 with the view of watching (should it live) the progress of 

 its present moult, and thereby obtain the desired informa- 

 tion. I consider it to come nearer the female of Anas 

 strepera, the Gadwall, of Wilson and Audubon, than to any 

 other wild species I am acquainted with. 



Learn from Mr. Wedderburn that Captain Drummond 

 confidently reports having seen a Hawk Owl (Surnia 

 funered), in the vicinity of St. George's, on Sunday last, 

 the 16th instant. It passed very close to him on the wing. 

 This bird is supposed to have been previously observed and 

 fired at by an officer of the reserved battalion. 



Mr. McLeod, of the 42nd Regiment, tells me that one 

 day in October last the Rice-bird was particularly abundant 

 in the Governor's Marsh. Thousands were seen by him on 

 that occasion, but on re-visiting the marsh the following 

 day all were gone. Does not recollect the date of this 

 visitation. 



Saw a large dark-coloured Hawk pass over the new 

 church in a westerly direction. Walked out with my gun, 

 and in Mr. Kennedy's Marsh, found one of his servants 

 watching a brood of chickens with a gun in his hand. He 

 told me a large Hawk had recently killed and carried off 

 four of that brood, and that his usual hour of appearance 

 was 4 p.m. Assisted in watching for the depredator for 

 half-an-hour. He did not, however, favour us with his 

 presence. 



