CHAP. XII.] 



BERMUDA. 



257 



the results of the Challenger expedition will probably clear up 

 the difficulty. 



Zoology of Bermuda. — As might be expected from their 

 extreme isolation, these islands possess no indigenous land 

 mammalia, frogs, or snakes. There is however one lizard, which 

 Professor Cope considers to be distinct from any American 

 species, and which he has named Plestiodoii longirostris. It is 

 said to be most nearly allied to P. fasciaius of the south-eastern 

 States, from which it differs in having nearly ten more rows of 

 scales, the tail thicker, and the muzzle longer. In colour it is 

 ashy brown above, greenish blue beneath, with a white line 

 black-margined on the sides, and it seems to be tolerably 

 abundant in the islands. This lizard is especially interesting 

 as the only vertebrate animal which exhibits any peculiarity. 



Birds. — Notvvithstanding its small size, low a^ltitude, and 

 remote position, a great number of birds visit Bermuda annually, 

 some in large numbers, others only as accidental stragglers. 

 Altogether, over 180 species have been recorded, rather more 

 than half being wading and swimming birds, whose presence is 

 not so much to be wondered at as they are great wanderers ; 

 while about eighty-five are land birds, many of which would 

 hardly be supposed capable of flying so great a distance. Of 

 the 180 species, however, about thirty have only been seen once, 

 and a great many more are very rare ; but about twenty species 

 of land bird are recorded as tolerably frequent visitors, and nearly 

 half these appear to come every year. 



There are only ten species which are permanent residents on 

 the island — eight land, and two water birds, and of these one 

 has been almost certainly introduced. These resident birds are 

 as follows : 



1. Galeoscopfes carolinensis. (The Cat bird.) Migrates along the east 



coast of the United States. 



2. S'lalia sialis. (The Blue bird.) Migrates along the east coast. 



3. Vireo novmhoracensis. (The White-eyed green Tit.) Migrates along 



the east coast. 



4. Passer domesticus. (The English Sparrow.) ? Introduced. 



6. Corvus americanus. (The American Crow.) Coonnon over all North 

 America, 



S 



