Page:The Zoologist, 3rd series, vol 1 (1877).djvu/436

410 in the dockyard at Ireland Island, January 20th, 1850, and got quite tame, and lived for several days in my room; but poisoned itself by eating part of a composite candle, which it had cut nearly in half with its strong bill during the night. I shot three specimens near Mr. Ewing's house, April 5th, 1850, and saw a small flock on several occasions near Pitt's Bay, but they were so shy I could not get near them. They disappeared early in May." Mr. Bartram has several specimens. On November 17th, 1874, three were observed on some cedar trees at Prospect Camp. Two males were shot among some sage bushes, near the shore at Warwick, by Gibbs, on the 25th of that month; and another male was obtained at Prospect about the same time. These may have been the trio originally seen. The stomachs of the two Warwick birds were crammed with small green caterpillars, and contained no trace of seeds. The insectivorous nature of the Crossbill is not mentioned by Wilson; it is alluded to by Dr. Saxby in the 'Birds of Shetland.' This species must visit Bermuda both going and returning.

Curvirostra leucoptera, White-winged Crossbill.—A less frequent visitor than the preceding, on its northward journey only. A fine male was killed on May llth, 1852, by a boy who had another in his possession; dale unknown. An officer of the 56th Regiment shot one, a female, at Somerset, in March, 1852. Mr. Bartram has obtained a pair, male and female. This bird has occurred several times in Great Britain, and it is somewhat remarkable that the preceding species, C. americana, has not yet paid us a visit. I expect it will find its way across the Atlantic some day, and share the fate of every unfortunate straggler to our inhospitable shores.

Ægiothus linarius, Redpoll Linnet.—Only recorded previously in 1847 and 1850. Two were obtained, February 8th and October 11th, in the former year. In March, 1850, flocks of this bird appeared in the neighbourhood of St. George's, and several specimens were obtained there and elsewhere throughout the islands. A goodly number visited the islands in small flocks in January, 1875: these were very tame at first, but soon became shy. Specimens were obtained during the month at all parts of the islands.

Chrysomitris pinus, Pine Linnet.—Two specimens in Mr. Bartram's collection are the only ones on record. They were obtained near Stocks Point.

Plectrophanes nivalis, Snow Bunting.—This is a pretty constant