200 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BERMUDAS. 



November jtk. — Major Tulloch, 42nd Highlanders, tells 

 me that on the 2nd instant he observed a flock of fourteen 

 Wild Ducks flying to the southward. This flock has 

 been reported to me by other persons who saw it on the 

 same day, and positively declare they were not mistaken 

 in taking these birds for Ducks. Their flight was suffi- 

 ciently low to bring them within shot as they passed over 

 the hills. 



November nth.— Hunted the neighbouring marshes at 

 an early hour in the morning. Found one Snipe, which I 

 killed. Saw no other description of bird. A Sussex 

 Spaniel, recently imported from England, was with me on 

 this occasion. 



November i$th. — Shot a Duck in Mr. Kennedy's Marsh 

 this morning, which was quite new to me. It measured 

 sixteen inches in length, was dark brown, glossed with 

 purple and green on the head and upper parts ; wings, 

 dusky ; secondaries, slate coloured, margined with brown 

 and tipped with white. Under plumage of the wing, 

 slatey, the larger feathers near the body pure white. Legs 

 and feet, bluish ash colour ; the webbs, dusky. Hind toe, 

 with a lobed membrane. Bill, black. Irides, dull orange. 

 Rump, minutely dotted with white. The chestnut ring on 

 the neck was obscure. In other respects this bird agreed 

 with Audubon's and Wilson's description of the Ring- 

 necked Duck {Fuligula rufitorques). This is an addition 

 to our list of birds. As the specimen was not severely 

 wounded, it is my intention to preserve it alive, if possible. 



Saw a flock of small birds, of a dark brown colour, rise 

 from a piece of dead guinea grass, and shelter themselves 



