242 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BERMUDAS. 



{Bombycilla carolinensis of Audobon), being one of three 

 shot on the 30th ultimo, from a flock of twelve birds, at 

 Peniston's ponds. It was without the red tips to the 

 secondaries. Young Darrell reports having seen five 

 " Wild Ducks " at the ponds. 



December 6th. — David Tucker, a coloured man, sent me 

 a very fine specimen of the American Coot (Fulica ameri- 

 cana). It was very recently killed, and very plump, and 

 measured sixteen inches in length by twenty-eight in 

 extent. 



December lotk. — Walked through White's Marsh, and 

 from thence to the sluice gates. Found two Snipe only, 

 both of which got away unhurt. Saw the large Hawk 

 mentioned on the nth ultimo. It is a very long-tailed 

 one, and was flying very sedately when I observed it. 

 Colour, light brown below, darker above. Also met with 

 one Carolina Crake and a couple of Kingfishers. 



December i^th. — Soon after daylight this morning "the 

 Hawk " made its appearance in White's Marsh. Went 

 down with my gun and concealed myself among the cedar 

 trees close by, and, after waiting some ten minutes, saw 

 the stranger approaching from Mr. Kennedy's grounds. 

 The moment the bird was within range I fired, and had 

 the satisfaction of seeing it fall "dead." It proved to be 

 the Marsh Hawk, of Wilson, or Common Harrier {Circus 

 cyanens of Audubon) — a very fine specimen — twenty and 

 a half inches in length, by three feet eight and a half 

 inches in extent. Nothing can be more correct than the 

 general description given by Wilson of this handsome 

 bird — of course, I speak of the female only, the present 



