23O NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BERMUDAS. 



October \^th. — Hunted the Pembroke Marshes from 

 Minton's to the sluice gates. Found two Snipe below 

 Government House, both of which I killed. Saw no other 

 bird of any kind. 



October i$tk. — Mr. Fozard tells me that while fishing in 

 a boat off the end of Ireland Island yesterday afternoon, 

 he observed a small flock of Ring Plover {Charadrius semi- 

 palmatus) come in from the north, and continue their 

 course to the extreme end of Spanish Point. These little 

 birds passed within a short distance of the boat, were 

 about ten in number, flew close to the surface of the water, 

 and " appeared to be fatigued." 



October \6th. — Another Black Duck {Anas obscura) was 

 killed at Peniston's Ponds on the 14th instant by Mr. C. 

 Darrell. Three others were in company with this Duck. 

 They are said to be exceedingly shy. 



October Vjth. — A coloured person named Basden pre- 

 sented me this morning with a male specimen of the Night 

 Heron, in the spotted plumage of the young. It was in 

 excellent condition, and measured twenty-five and a half 

 inches in length by three feet seven inches in extent. 

 This is the first of Ardea family that I have seen this 

 season. Basden also informed me that he shot a curious 

 bird in the pond near his house a few days ago. When 

 first observed by him it was swimming with the head and 

 neck only above water. After three or four attempts to 

 shoot it he at last succeeded in wounding it in the neck ; 

 in this state it was kept alive for two or three days, and 

 ultimately it made its escape. He described the bird as 



