94 THE NATURALIST IN BERMUDA. 



which attracted the birds, until they settled on the very- 

 person of the hunter." 



Here we have the testimony of two writers distinctly 

 pointing to the existence of a " singular " bird in the Ber- 

 mudas. Let us examine these statements, and separating 

 truth from fable, endeavour to ascertain the true character 

 of this marvel of former days. 



Governor Smith says it is nocturnal in its habits, and 

 noted for the tune of its voice, hiding in holes ia the rocks 

 by day, where it rears its young, and is easy to capture ; he 

 also describes its egg as being " white," and Purchas further 

 informs us that the bird is about the size of a plover. 



Being unable to obtain information from any one regard- 

 ing the existence of this bird at the present day, I deter- 

 mined to visit the islands in the. vicinity of Castle Habour, 

 for the express purpose of ascertainiug that point. A friend, 

 imbued with a taste for natural knowledge, joined me on 

 this occasion. Embarking at the Ferry House in a four- 

 oared cutter, on the 28th of June, 1847, we visited several 

 of those islands, and were pleased to learn from persons 

 there resident, that the Cahow was still known by its old 

 name, which was described to us as an imitation of its 

 peculiar note cao-hoo, and that it stUl continued to breed in 

 that locality. A boy assured us that he had recently caught 

 two of those birds on Cooper's Island, and described them 

 as " brown or whitish," and about the size of a duck. 



I was particularly anxious to examine the Black, or 

 Gurnet Head Eock, which rises boldly from the sea near the 

 entrance to Castle Harbour ; it being a favourite breeding 

 place for the tern family, and where I thought it very 

 probable the cahow might also be found, but a strong 



