NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BERMUDAS. 237 



colour. In other respects it agreed with Audubon's brief 

 description of this bird. This is the second time this 

 diminutive Crake has come under my observation, the 

 former specimen having been shot by Lieutenant Wedder- 

 burn on the 19th of November, 1847, in the same locality. 



Mr. John Darrell tells me that in the vicinity of Peniston's 

 ponds yesterday four Wild Geese passed within a short 

 distance of him, apparently directing their course to that 

 piece of water. He describes two of them as being " fine 

 birds," the remaining two something less in size. Colour, 

 dark grey. May not these wanderers be the young of the 

 Snow Goose in their immature mantle of bluish-grey ? I 

 regret that my official duties will not permit me to go in 

 search of these birds. 



November nth. — Went in search of a large Hawk, said 

 to have been beating the marshes near my residence 

 during my absence at office. Failed in meeting with it. 

 Saw one Snipe and one Carolina Crake only. 



November 12th. — " A large bird in the marsh," an- 

 nounced by the neighbours early this morning. It proved 

 to be the Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias), in immature 

 plumage. Succeeded in shooting it. Length, three feet 

 six and one-tenth inches. This is, doubtless, a recently- 

 arrived stranger. It v/as very fat. 



November i$tk. — Saw Mr. A. S. Trott in the town, and 

 enquired if any birds had been seen in the large piece of 

 water near his residence. He replied that several Ducks 

 had been there of late, adding, as a matter of great 



