ZOOLOGY. 33 



Hamilton. I have never found their nests, but they are 

 known to have bred, as a few young crows were observed 

 near "Warwick Church, during the first week of April, 1849. 

 It is supposed they were introduced from Nova Scotia some 

 few years ago. 



Yellow-bellied Woodpecker (Picusvarius).* In general, 

 not very common. I first saw it in December, 1847; again, 

 in November, 1848 ; and in April, 1850, a great many 

 suddenly appeared, several of which I shot. Many of the 

 palmetto trees are bored by this bird. It breeds in 

 Mr. BaUinghaU's garden every year ; and I should think 

 that a few also breed in holes in the large trees at 

 Brackish Pond, and in some of the other large swamps. 



Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus Americanus). First 

 observed by Dr. Cole (20th Eegiment), in 1844. On the 

 16th October, 1847, another specimen was captured at 

 Ireland Island, and sent to me ; and again, another in 1848. 

 An extraordinary flight of these birds occurred on the 9th 

 of October, 1849, thousands of them appearing, the most of 

 which disappeared the following day. A few again ap- 

 peared, about 23rd April, 1852, remaining for two or three 

 days only. 



Belted Kingfishee (A Icedo alcycm). These birds arrive 

 regularly about the middle of September, and are to be 

 found in all the mangrove swamps, creeks, and ponds, in 

 the islands. Many- remain during the winter, but they all 

 disappear about the middle of April. A curious circum- 

 stance happened to me on the 5th of April, 1850, when out 

 shooting at Hungry Bay. I wounded a belted kingfisher, 

 which fell into the water, and whilst fluttering about, a 

 large crab darted at it from below, dragging it with him 



D 



