270 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BERMUDAS. 



It had several companions of the same square-tailed 

 species, and was by no means fat when skinned by Mr. 

 Clutterbuck. 



July 3^.— On the 1 6th of last month, Mr. Fozard sent 

 me a young Phcston cetkereus, taken from the nest at 

 Somerset, and apparently about three weeks old. It 

 exhibited the usual plumage of the young bird, viz., white, 

 marked on the back and wings with transverse bars in the 

 form of a bracket. Having no convenient place for 

 rearing this nestling, I decided on preserving its skin, 

 as a proof of the errors committed by ornithologists in 

 England. 



July 10th. — Mr. Harford tells me that while out in his 

 boat near St. George's yesterday, he shot six young Tropic 

 birds on the wing, with the down still about them, and the 

 long tail feathers just growing. Long as I have resided 

 in the Bermudas, this is the only instance of the kind that 

 has come to my knowledge. These young birds were 

 skinned and eaten by his men stationed at Fort Cun- 

 ningham. 



July igth. — I learn from Major Byles, 56th Regiment, 

 that the steamer " Merlin," which arrived yesterday from 

 New York, brought, among other things, in her ice box, 

 some Yellow- legged Sandpipers, some of which the Major 

 purchased under the denomination of " Snipe." Of course, 

 these can be no other than the Totanus flavipes. 



July 20th. — Mr. John Darrell informs me that on Satur- 

 day last, the 17th instant, he shot three Yellow-legged 

 Sandpipers {Totanus flavipes) at Peniston's ponds. I have 



