NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BERMUDAS. 407 



The chief support of the Sparrow would, therefore, 

 depend upon the seeds of grass, sedge, and weeds of many 

 kinds, with a multitude of grubs and caterpillars in the 

 breeding season, wherewith to feed their young. A few 

 grains of Indian Corn from the poultry yard may be 

 added ; but these no generous or right-minded person 

 would object to. 



In 1877 the English Pheasant and Partridge were 

 introduced into Bermuda by Sir Robert M. Laffan, then 

 Governor of the islands. 



The Powee, or Curacoa Bird, was some years ago intro- 

 duced into the Bermudas from the West India Islands. 

 It is a handsome South American bird, and is occasionally 

 kept in the gardens and grounds of the native residents 

 as a domestic favourite. In size it resembles a female 

 Turkey. It is of dark-coloured plumage, and crested. 

 A female in my possession was very tame, though some- 

 what pugnacious to strangers, whom it would follow and 

 peck at about the heels. I have seen a Powee in the 

 Bermudas which sported a brilliant yellow crest, from 

 which I am induced to think there must be a second 

 species of this bird. 



" BERMUDA." 



" Quaint old islands of Bermuda, thou art beautiful and grand ! 

 And, if I behold thee rightly, thou seem'st like a Fairy Land : 

 Standing lonely in mid-ocean, free from chilling snow and ice, 

 Thou hast given me the notion that thou art earth's paradise ! 

 The environment is wondrous — and I speak my feelings true — 

 For the waters that surround thee charm me with their azure hue. 

 Could I, like th'immortal Byron, picture thee in language rare, 

 I could not pourtray thy waters more effulgent than they are. 

 Quaint, though cosy, are thy houses, with their roofs as white as snow ; 

 While the ruins of some arouse memories of long ago. 

 Thy white-dotted hills and valleys clothed in verdure all the year ; 

 Land of Springtime, land of Summer ! where, oh where hast thou a 

 peer? 



