NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BERMUDAS. 205 



" Gadwall " which ran with the other poultry, indeed, they 

 were often in his clutches, and as often rescued by the 

 inmates of the house. As fresh meat is not to be obtained 

 every day in the Bermudas, and mice, rats, and even the 

 native wild birds, are sometimes scarce about the premises, 

 it was no uncommon occurrence for " Hawkey " to go 

 without his allowance. At such times he would con- 

 descend to eat a slice of fresh fish, a description of food 

 he had been accustomed to, during his residence with the 

 fisherman. The large white larva of a species of Chafer, 

 very common in Bermuda, was a bonne bouche which he 

 never refused. These he would take up singly in one foot, 

 using the same precisely in the manner of the Parrot tribe. 

 He was fond of standing on the brink of a small Duck 

 Pond, but for what purpose (whether washing or drinking) 

 I could never ascertain. The dark colour of the upper 

 plumage was gradually changing to a light and slatey hue. 

 After a wet night or heavy shower, this Hawk would take 

 up some convenient position on a post or rail, and with 

 outspread wings and tail keep up a constant fanning of the 

 air, for the purpose of drying his plumage. His courage 

 and voracity never forsook him, and only two days before 

 his death, he made an attack upon the Wild Duck 

 (Gadwall), from the back of which he was beaten off 

 with sage bushes and stones. The cause of its death is 

 unknown to me. 



December igth. — Shot a fine specimen of Charadrius 

 vociferus or Kildeer Plover, in Mr. Kennedy's ploughed 

 marsh land. Length, nine and three quarter inches. It 

 was a lovely bird and very fat. 



December 21st. — Went in chase of two Ducks, which 

 made their appearance in Hamilton Harbour this morning. 



