NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BERMUDAS. 403 



gardens and cedar groves, is highly to be commended; 

 although on what grounds the same protection is to extend 

 to migratory birds I am unable to understand. That 

 portion of the Act which offers a premium for the destruc- 

 tion of the American Crow (Corvus americanus) and its 

 eggs I regard as barbarous and cruel in the extreme ; and 

 feel assured that the Island Legislature has been greatly 

 misled in estimating the character of that highly ornamen- 

 tal and useful bird. 



During my long residence in the Bermudas, these Crows, 

 for many years, never exceeded a dozen individuals, all 

 told, and, at the period of my departure, they had increased 

 to twenty — a harmless number, incapable of injury, if so 

 disposed. 



In my ornithological wanderings in Bermuda one or 

 two Crows would occasionally pass over my head with a 

 joyous caw, reminding me of other lands ; but I never for 

 a moment thought of raising my gun to molest them ; 

 and the only specimen I ever obtained was shot at Spanish 

 Point, and sent to me by a friend. 



I had known this Crow years before in Prince Edward 

 Island, and had become familiar with its habits. Many 

 hundreds passed over my house every evening during sum- 

 mer, to assemble in a pine grove within sight, where they 

 were accustomed to roost ; in addition to which I possessed 

 a handsome, tame specimen, at liberty on the lawn and 

 garden, where it associated with a green Parrot, the two 

 birds being upon the most friendly terms. Though so 

 numerous in that agricultural island, no complaints ever 

 reached me of its being injurious to the farmers. It was not 

 seen in that island during the winter. 



Bermuda is noted for the cultivation of winter vegetables, 

 of which the potato crops form a large and prominent item; 

 and now that the Colorado beetle has found its way to those 



