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 Plestiodon longirostris. It is 
said to be most nearly allied to P. fasciatus 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 . — Notwithstanding its small size, low altitude, 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. Galeoscoptes carolinensis. (The Cat bird.) Migrates along the east 
coast of the United States. 
2. Sialia sialis. (The Blue bird.) Migrates along the east coast. 
3. Vireo novceboracensis. (The White-eyed green Tit.) Migrates along 
the east coast. 
4. Passer domesticus. (The English Sparrow.) ? Introduced. 
5. Corvus americanus. (The American Crow.) Common over all North 
America. 
S 
