15° NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BERMUDAS. 



January 2^th. — Mr. Wedderburn tells me he obtained a 

 fine specimen of the American Crossbill {Curvirostra 

 americana of Wilson), a few days ago, from a man at 

 the Dockyard, who captured it alive there. It is still in 

 a state of captivity, and appears from the redness of its 

 plumage to be a young male. This is an addition to our 

 fauna. 



Walked to the Chief Justice's pond, and from thence 

 through the Cedar Groves to the Sandhills, and along the 

 South Shore to Hungry Bay and Harry Tucker's pond. 

 Expected to fall in with a sea bird or two, the weather 

 having been rough and boisterous for some days, and the 

 wind still blowing strong from the north. In this, as 

 usual, I was disappointed, the coast appearing to be 

 entirely deserted. Met with a small land bird, however, 

 which I killed — a Yellow-rump Warbler {Sylvia coronata 

 of Audubon). It was a male in excellent plumage, the 

 yellow of the rump being particularly bright. 



February ist. — Johnson, the coloured store-keeper, who 

 resides near Mr. Kennedy's entrance gate, brought me a 

 very fine living specimen of Wilson's Duck Hawk {Falco 

 anatum of Bonaparte), which he had shot on the wing, near 

 his own house. This powerful Hawk has been notorious 

 for some time past in the neighbourhood of Hamilton, 

 from the frequency and boldness of his attacks upon 

 ducks and fowls. It appeared to strike its prey both with 

 the bill and talons — at least I presume so, from the 

 fact of a duck's bill having been severed from the head ; 

 and in another instance, a hen, which was rescued 

 immediately after being struck, was found with her neck 

 all but cut through. This is the second instance that has 

 come to my knowledge of this Falcon being met with in 



