222 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BERMUDAS. 



While in the yard, this evening, a Swallow passed 

 leisurely over the spot, flying due south. I took it to be 

 Hirundo rustica. This is the first of the Swallow tribe I 

 have seen this season. 



August \^th. — Saw a Swallow several times this morn- 

 ing in the front street, opposite the Custom House. It 

 was of the white-bellied species. On my return home I 

 saw Swallows on the wing over the neighbouring marsh, 

 and was informed by my neighbour, Mr. White, that they 

 had been very numerous there, earlier in the day. 



August i$t/i. — At seven this morning, Facey's boy 

 " Edmund," came over to let me know that White's Marsh 

 was " alive with birds." Went down half-an-hour after- 

 wards when they had entirely disappeared. Ascertained 

 that they were Swallows, with white bellies and forked 

 tails. Nothing more was seen of these birds during the 

 day in that locality, indeed not a straggler remained 

 behind. 



At this season of the year the native Cat-bird {Orpheus 

 carolinensis), is a constant attendant upon the grape vines 

 which shade the back entrance of the house, feeding upon 

 the fruit as fast as it ripens. It is a very familiar bird, 

 and is a decided admirer of the small capsicum pepper, 

 which it plucks and swallows with avidity at a few yards 

 distance from the observer. 



August 16th. — Heard the shrill whistling note of 

 Totanus flavipes, or Yellow-Shanks Tattler, as that bird 

 passed over the town to-day. 



