Page:The Zoologist, 3rd series, vol 1 (1877).djvu/511

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.
THE BIRDS OF THE BERMUDAS.
485

specimens alluded to are one killed by Mr. C. Abbott, 20th Regiment, on the 19th December, 1846, and two others by Major Wedderburn, at Warwick Pond, on the 8th January, 1849. [On the 25th Febuary, 1876, I shot a female of this species at Tucker's Town, which measured sixteen inches in length.]

Fuligula collaris, Ring-necked Duck.—One was captured, and kept for a short time alive, by Mr. Hurdis, on the 13th November, 1850. He was anxious to watch the change of the plumage, but the poor bird fell a victim to a cat (Nat. in B., p. 50).

Fuligula vallisneria, Canvas-back.—Mr. Hurdis purchased a specimen of this Duck from some boys, by whom it was captured alive in a marsh near James's Cottages, on the 30th October, 1851. It was destroyed by ants soon afterwards. On the 23rd November following he observed a very fine specimen in While's Marsh,

Bucephala clangula, Goldeneye.—"A male specimen was shot on the 10th April, 1854, in Pembroke Marshes" (Nat. in B., p. 49). There were several of these Ducks about the islands in the winter of 1874-5, and I succeeded in obtaining two, both males, in immature plumage, at Peniston's Pond, on the 29th December, 1874, and 5th February following. A flock of seven frequented Shelly Bay Marsh, and were also seen by Lieut. Hussey in the Great Sound; but I am not sure that any other specimens were procured. I at first thought my birds were B. islandica (Barrow's Goldeneye), but if Dr. Coues be right in his opinion as to this latter species "having apparently a circum-polar distribution, and penetrating but a limited distance south in winter," I presume they are referable to true clangula. But are the two really distinct? [A female duck of this species was shot by Bendall in Devonshire Swamp on the 22nd January, 1876.— H.D.]

Bucephala albeola, Buffel-headed Duck.—One was obtained in Pembroke Marsh in December, 1845, and others have been occasionally observed subsequently. [Lieut. Tallents, of the 20th Regiment, shot a male bird of this species at Peniston's Pond in November, 1875.— H. D.]

Œdemia perspicillata, Surf Scoter.—Two recorded in 'The Naturalist in Bermuda'—one killed with a stick in Hamilton Harbour on the 8th January, 1849, and another shot in Pembroke Marsh on the 7th October, 1854. Lieut. Hussey, R.E., shot one (a female) on a small pond near the lighthouse, on the 17th November, 1874, and kindly presented it to me.