88 THE NATURALIST IN BEEMUDA. 



many a sporting cruise. It- continued, however, to baiHe 

 all attempts to shoot it, and disappeared early in March. 



Frigate Bird [Tachypetes aquilus). One of these birds 

 was shot by Captain Clutterbuck (56th Eegt.), on the 30th 

 of September, 1852, and another by Captain Tolcher, of the 

 same regiment, on the 2nd of April, 1854. 



Tropic Bird {Phaeton jEthereus). On the rocks and craigs 

 of the distant and secluded Islands of Bermuda, where, 

 doubtless, in ages past, myriads of sea fowl of various des- 

 criptions, nestled and reared their young, the tropic bird, 

 two species of tern, and the fabulous " Cahow " of the early 

 settlers, are the only sea birds which now frequent those 

 shores in the breeding season. 



The Phaeton ^thereus, commonly known by the name 

 of "boatswain," "longtail," or "tropic bird," is a summer 

 resident in those islands, making its appearance from the 

 south, between the 4th and 18th of March, and taking its 

 departure early in the month of October. 



The favourite resort of these interesting birds is among 

 the small islands, at the entrance of Castle Harbour, on the 

 shores of Harrington Sound, and along the south coast from 

 the light-house to the north-west extremity of Somerset. 

 Here, at the early period above-mentioned, and conspicuous 

 by the glittering whiteness of their plumage, and by the two 

 long slender feathers of the tail, numbers of these phaetons 

 may be seen busy on the wing, wheeling occasionally in their 

 flight, and dashing perpendicularly into the blue waves to 

 secure their prey, precisely in the manner of the terns. 



On the 10th of May, I have ranged the rugged coast, 

 frequented by these birds, for miles, and found it, to all 

 appearance, deserted not only by them, but by every other 



