NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BERMUDAS. 217 



became lost to my sight, but another member of the 

 family who had been out shooting on the hills, that day, 

 happened to cross thus line of flight on his return and 

 discovered the remains of the unfortunate Duck, where, 

 doubtless it had been destroyed by its small though 

 dauntless and persevering enemy. Whether right or 

 wrong, it was my impression at the time that the aggressor 

 was either the Hobby (Fa lex? subbuteo) or the Merlin 

 (Falco asalon) of Bewick. 



May "jth. — Captain Drummond informed me this even- 

 ing, that a few days since he observed a second instance 

 of the Scarlet Tanager on St. David's Island. It was a 

 splendid male bird, and sat pluming itself on a railing 

 only a few yards distant. It is worthy of remark that 

 this very beautiful bird should visit these Islands for two 

 successive seasons, previous to which it appears to have 

 been unknown. 



May 1 2tk. — A Scarlet Tanager was reported last evening 

 as having been seen near Captain Whitney's residence, on 

 the road to Spanish Point. Hunted all the surrounding 

 cedar groves to-day ; saw nothing but native birds. Re- 

 turned home by the sluice gates, where my dog put up one 

 or two Carolina Crakes. 



May igth. — The son of Mr. Frank Peniston tells me that 

 about three weeks ago he was on the shore of Harrington 

 Sound, and saw there a very extraordinary bird, does not 

 know what kind of bird it was, never having seen such 

 before. He described it as somewhat larger than the 

 Common Blue Bird, of a bright red colour, with black 

 wings and black tail. There can be no doubt that this 



