172 THE NATURALIST IN BEEMUDA. 



always so blown with air as to float belly upwards, being 

 unable to retain their natural position iii the water. The 

 fishermen assure me this does not arise from towing, and 

 that aU fish caught in de.ef water invariably come to the 

 surface in that state. Shallow water fish, they say, are 

 never blown in this manner. 



Again, the Porcupine fish (TetraodoTi) when hooked, 

 comes to the surface expanded with air into the form of a 

 baU, with its formidable spines erect; but when taken 

 in a fish-pot it does not exhibit this extraordinary inflation, 

 and the spines are recumbent. 



How are these phenomenon to be accounted for ? — J. L. H. 



Mortality among Imported Poultry. — It is an extrar 

 ordinary circumstance that common domestic fowls, im- 

 ported from the United States of America into the 

 Bermudas, though landed in the best of order and con- 

 dition, sicken and die soon after their arrival in the 

 Islands ; whether from change of climate or food, or from 

 what other cause I cannot say, but certain it is, that in the 

 course of a few weeks, dozens of these birds will dwindle 

 down to as many units, notwithstanding every care has 

 been bestowed upon them. Geese, ducks, and turkeys 

 appear to be exempt from the cause of this mortality ; and 

 fowls bred in the islands do not suffer from it, even when 

 associated with the imported birds. I have occasionally 

 attempted to improve the few fowls about my own resi- 

 dence by purchasing handsome birds from American vessels, 

 but after moping about for some time with drooping wings 

 and pallid combs, they invariably died. — J. L. H. 



