NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BERMUDAS. l8l 



plumage of the young [?]) was shot in the vicinity of 

 Hamilton, some fifteen years ago, by a Mr. Dunscomb, 

 now dead, but whose widow is still living, and, until 

 recently, retained in her possession a foot of the said 

 Swan. My endeavours to obtain permission to examine 

 this ornithological relict led to the discovery of its being 

 no longer in existence. Mr. William White, an old resi- 

 dent proprietor on the margin of the marsh near Hamilton, 

 recollects the circumstance — that this Swan had been 

 observed, for three or four days, in the marsh near his 

 residence, before it was shot ; that it was not wild or wary 

 during that period, and would allow persons to approach 

 within shot of it. Mr. White also tells me he has seen 

 Swans of a pure white in the same marsh, besides several 

 Wild Geese and many Ducks, but this was fourteen or 

 sixteen years ago, since which they have been rarely seen. 

 This Swan sold for three dollars. 



June 2nd. — Mr. Arthur Downes, of the Commissariat, 

 who resides on the margin of a salt water creek, at Honey- 

 moon Cottage, and amuses himself by rowing a small skiff 

 within the same, tells me that in coasting along the belt 

 of mangrove trees, about sunset, he has lately disturbed a 

 Night Heron, not only once, but several times, and that the 

 bird appears to have taken up its abode in that locality. 

 The vernal appearance of the Night Heron is very 

 unusual. 



June $th. — Captain Drummond, 42nd Royal High- 

 landers, being now quartered in Hamilton, I had an 

 opportunity this afternoon of examining the Pelican, which 

 was shot by a native Mudian at St. David's Island, on the 

 9th of April last. It is the brown species appertaining 



