62 THE NATUEALIST IN BERMUDA. 



I followed, and with no little shame for the act, shot Jhe 

 poor bird as it rose in a fallow, a genuine Alauda arvensis, 

 and a total stranger to the shores of America. "Whence it 

 came is an interesting problem for the consideration of 

 ornithologists.* 



Snow Bunting (PUdrophanes nivalis). They also ap- 

 peared in 1849 and 1853. I have noted twelve specimens 

 shot, and one killed with a stone. In December, 1850, a 

 year fertile beyond precedent in ornithological occurrences,, 

 flocks of the snow bunting were observed on the hiUs of 

 Port Koyal, near the lighthouse. Those that I examined 

 were in beautiful plumage, and very fat. 



KiCE BiED (BoUchonyx oryzhm-d). The " wandering rice 

 bird" is one of the marvels of the American continent. It 

 breeds in Canada and the United States, north of the 40th 

 degree of latitude, swarms in the rice fields of Pennsylvania 

 early in October, proceeding thence to the islands of Cuba . 

 and Jamaica, and early in ISTovember departing for the con- 

 tinent of South America. In the month of April they are 

 again seen in Jamaica for a few days on their migration to 

 the north. Darwin mentions .this bird, as being found at 

 the Gallapagos Islands in the Pacific ; it is therefore known 

 to traverse forty degrees of latitude in its wonderful flight 

 from north to south, and vice versa. What its movements 

 may be from November to March inclusive, remain to be 

 proved by future observers. 



The rice bird is not known to visit the Bermudas on its 

 vernal flight, although in September and October, it seldom 

 fails of being found there, generally in small flocks, and on 



* The specimen was presented to Major Wedderburn. 



