NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BERMUDAS. 187 



Saw a specimen of the Common Cat-bird {Orpheus 

 carolinensis) , broadly marked with white on the primaries 

 of each wing and on each side of the central tail feather, 

 so as to give the bird a complete pied appearance. It 

 was an old bird, probably a female, and in moult. One 

 centre tail feather was wanting. This curiosity was killed 

 by Captain Drummond during the day's excursion to the 

 Flatts. 



The Spotted Sandpipers I have examined this season 

 were mostly adult birds, beautifully spotted on the neck, 

 breast, and sides ; and so excessively loaded with fat as to 

 render the operation of skinning one of much difficulty. ' 



July 31st. — Mr. C. Fozard informs me that a Totanus 

 flavipes passed over his head this morning while fishing in 

 Hamilton Water. 



Mr. Marriott, who spent yesterday in fishing for 

 Groupers on the south-west shoals, tells me that a Stormy 

 Petrel came so close to the boat that he almost caught it 

 with his hands. Is positive that its tail was square, and 

 not forked. He also states that Tropic Birds were very 

 numerous about " Daniel's Island," off the extreme 

 western point of Somerset. 



August 1st. — Mr. Marriott (who resides on the crest of 

 a hill overlooking the south shore) tells me that last 

 evening, shortly before the setting of the sun, while busily 

 engaged in his garden, he heard distinctly above him the 

 notes of a numerous flight of Sandpipers, or what he con- 

 sidered to be. Although the evening was clear and 



