224 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BERMUDAS. 



September 4th. — Captain Richardson informs me that 

 while in a boat fishing' on the north shore, near the 

 Admiral's residence, yesterday morning, he observed six 

 large, dark-coloured Wild Ducks pass on the wing in the 

 direction of Somerset Bridge. This event, so very unusual 

 in these islands, induced Richardson to mention the cir- 

 cumstance to me. Perhaps these Ducks may be part of a 

 flock of seven which, for some time past, I understand, 

 has frequented a large salt-water pond near Mr. A. S. 

 Trott's house. Mr. Trott told me some days ago that one 

 Duck has been shot there weighing two and a quarter 

 pounds. He described it as brownish on the back, and 

 called it the " Canvass Back," but no dependence whatever 

 can be placed in the descriptions given by natives, and as 

 they seldom give strangers an opportunity of judging 

 from an examination of such specimens, the true species 

 is likely to remain unknown, until accident shall place it 

 in the power of some friend to ornithology to kill one. 



The master of the brigantine, " Griffin," which arrived 

 here from Halifax, Nova Scotia, on the 2nd instant, tells 

 me that he saw one or two flocks of birds during the 

 passage moving in the same direction with himself, and' 

 that these flocks were much oftener heard during the 

 night than seen by day ; supposes them to be " Plover." 



September "]th. — For some days past it has been repre- 

 sented to me, from various individuals, that flocks of birds 

 have been observed by them passing over the islands. 



About fifty Golden Plover were also reported among 

 the islands in the Sound. To-day I learn that Mr. Selby, 

 on his way from St. George's in a small sailing boat, not 



