NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BERMUDAS. 239 



eer) states that he saw eight flying down Hamilton Har- 

 bour this morning. The ferryman tells me his boat was 

 within three lengths of one this afternoon, and an old 

 coloured man, near the Chief Justice's pond, assures me 

 that for some nights past five Wild Ducks have frequented 

 that piece of water, and may be heard quacking and feed- 

 ing there in the night time. Many similar reports reach 

 me daily, so that I may safely say there are more wild fowl 

 in the Bermudas at the present time, than have appeared 

 at any period within the last eleven years. I very much 

 wish that my official duties would allow me to give a better 

 account of these strangers. 



November \Zth. — Another visit to the Chief Justice's 

 ponds this evening, in company with Mr. Fozard. Found 

 the same party of boys there, with a gun, and consequently 

 saw nothing of the Grebes. A Moor Hen, a Carolina Crake 

 arid a Kingfisher, or rather two of the latter, were all the 

 birds we fell in with. Waited expressly for the Bats, and 

 saw only one, which we failed in getting a shot at. Came 

 home in a shower of rain. 



Examined the skeleton remains of a small Grebe, which 

 was found in the margin of the Chief Justice's pond this 

 evening. Plumage, dark brown above and lighter brown 

 below. Tarsi, one and two-tenths inches in length. Have 

 no hesitation in pronouncing this to be the Pied-billed Dob- 

 chick (Podiceps carolinensis) of Audubon, in immature plu- 

 mage. It must have been dead for nine or ten days. 



November igtk. — Killed a Green Heron at the sluice 

 gates this morning, being the only Ardea virescens I 

 have met with this autumn. Saw two or three King- 



