152 NATURAL HISTORY OP THE BERMUDAS. 



or two since his servant observed some small web-footed 

 birds in a piece of grass land near his house, one of which 

 be captured and brought to him. Mr. Campbell described 

 this bird as being black on the upper parts ; white below ; 

 legs, black ; feet, webbed like a duck's ; bill, short, thick, and 

 pointed ; and so small in body as not to exceed five or six 

 inches in length. Unfortunately (there is generally some 

 fatality attending rare specimens in Bermuda), the rev. 

 gentleman's pig demolished this great curiosity, and 

 although Mr. Campbell tried to obtain another specimen 

 he was not successful. 



Can this be the Little Auk or Guillemot, Alca alle of 

 Wilson ? I know of nothing else approaching our rev. 

 friend's description. 



Mr. Wedderburn's Crossbill I examined a few days ago ; 

 it was then set up, and its plumage appeared to be chiefly 

 carmine and dull yellow; an indistinct line of dull white 

 crossed each wing at the end of the secondaries. 



February ntk. — Learnt from Mr. Marriott that a Wood- 

 pecker has been observed among the cedars near his house. 

 It was seen to climb the stems of trees and tap at the bark 

 with its bill, and had the usual crimson spot on the back of 

 the head. 



February 12th. — Received a note from the Rev. J. N. 

 Campbell, in reply to one of mine on the subject of the 

 small sea-bird, mentioned by him on the 7th instant. Mr. 

 Campbell says he has little doubt from Wilson's description 

 of the Little Auk, that it was that bird and regrets not 

 being able by any observations of his own to assist me in 

 establishing, with certainty, its identity with the same. He 

 concludes with the following words : " It was brought to me 



