ZOOLOGY. 83 



migration, is alone a sufficient proof of its prowess in that 

 respect. 



In the month of August I have noted a single instance 

 of its being met with, viz., on the 24th, when a specimen 

 was shot in the Pembroke marshes. In September they are 

 not uncommon, and in October more abundant than at any 

 other period, disappearing in some seasons at the end of 

 that month, while in others, a few remain to th« 25th of 

 November, and sometimes even beyond that period. 



In the years 1849, 1850-1-2, the Carolina , Crake was 

 observed to visit the Islands of Bermuda, on its vernal 

 migration, appearing in the latter part of February and the 

 ensuing months of March and April Of these, ten speci- 

 mens were shot, and three taken alive. Of the latter, one 

 flew into an officer's quarters at St. George's, where it was 

 captured ; another was found in the barrack pig-stye at the 

 same place, and the third was taken from a cat in my own 

 house. 



During a south-west gale which prevailed in the Ber- 

 mudas on the 9th of October, 1849, thousands of these 

 crakes suddenly appeared in the marshes ; and the snipe, 

 (Seolopax Wilsonii,) also became unusually abundant about 

 that time. On the 29th of the month not a single crake 

 was to be found ; the numerous ffight had proceeded on its 

 mysterious journey; we know not for certain in what 

 direction, though we humbly presume to the south. 



It cannot be said that this departure was occasioned by 

 the want of food, for the marshes were in splendid 

 condition for birds of this genus ; and certainly a tempera- 

 ture, ranging between seventy and eighty degrees of 

 Fahrenheit, could not have caused it. 



