Pond; and in some of the other large swamps." Three examples occurred during my stay, but I could not ascertain whether they bred or not in 1875. I don't think they did so in Brackish Pond, where I kept a careful watch for them. Mr. Bartram has about a dozen specimens, scarcely two of which are alike, so variable is the plumage of the species. They are all in immature dress, with the crimson patches more or less replaced by mottled gray, but all possess the characteristic "yellowness" which distinguishes the bird from nearly all the other American Picidæ.
Colaptes auratus, Golden-winged Woodpecker; Flicker.—The only specimens ever obtained were shot by officers of the 61st Regiment in Devonshire Marsh, as my friend Mr. J.M. Jones informed me. One or two were shot, in 1871 I think, but no others are on record.
Otus Wilsonianus, Long-eared Owl.—This near ally of our European O. vulgaris has occurred frequently, but irregularly, during the winter months, generally on the highest part of the islands, near the lighthouse. One in Mr. Bartram's collection was caught alive at Mount Langton a few years ago. This bird did not, to my knowledge, visit Bermuda during the year 1874-5.
Brachyotus palustris, Short-eared Owl.— Not so frequent a visitor as the preceding; but, like it, appearing in the autumn and winter months, and usually seen on the south side, near the lighthouse. The attraction presented by that part of the islands would appear to consist of a plentiful supply of mice, which inhabit the sandy scrub- covered hills near the shore.[1] Mr. Bartram has two specimens ol this Owl, and 1 obtained two myself during my stay—one at the Sand Hills, and another in Warwick Swamp.
Syrnium nebulosum, Barred Owl.—Mr. Hurdis observed one of these birds on the 2nd April, 1851.
Nyctea nivea, Snowy Owl.— Major Wedderburn observes (Nat. in B., p. 25):—Lieut. Fayrer, R.N, shot two specimens at Boss's Cove in the autuum of 1843. Another, a fine female specimen, was shot by a person named Llewellyn, at Ireland Island, on the 29th November, 1853: this bird was only wounded, and when examined by Mr. Hurdis, on the 13th December following, appeared lively and well. When being fed, it frequently erected a little tuft of- feathers on each side of the head, so as to resemble
- ↑ I saw many of these little quadrupeds, but never succeeded in capturing one, to my great regret, as I fancy they differed from the ordinary Mus musculus.
