Page:The Zoologist, 3rd series, vol 1 (1877).djvu/440

414 notes are changed according to season. Mr. J.M. Jones called my attention to this, too late, unfortunately, for me to make any lengthened study of the changes; but 1 heard sufficient to satisfy myself of their occurrence. Thus, in December and January, nearly every songster I listened to was " way-too-"ing at the lop of his voice, and I occasionally heard the peculiar " whir-r-r-r." Later on "way-too" became less frequent, being replaced by the monotonous "tew, tew," and other notes. A more careful and lengthened series of observations would be of considerable interest. In spring the Red Bird commences to sing at daybreak, considerably before the Blue Bird. A wounded Red Bird can give the unwary collector a most painful nip with his strong beak. In spite, however, of his strength, he allows himself to be driven ignominiously from his nest by the smaller Blue Bird, as ahead}' mentioned. The skin of this species is remarkably delicate, almost resembling tissue-paper. The rich vermilion plumage soon fades when exposed to light.

Dolichonyx oryzivorus, Bob-o-link; Rice Bird.—Mr. Hurdis says of this bird:—"The Rice Bird is not known to visit the Bermudas on its vernal flight, although in September and October it seldom fails of being found there, generally in small flocks, and on one occasion in considerable numbers. They frequent the manshes, where the ripe panicles of seed from the reeds and sedge offer an ample abundance of their favourite food." And Major Wedderburn remarks:—"During some years this bird is not uncommon, but always found in winter plumage. They are so extremely fat that it is almost impossible to preserve them." I have little to add to the above notes, except that one of Mr. Bartram's specimens is a male in imperfect summer plumage. I never met with the species myself, but they were familiar to many of my friends. They did not visit the Bermudas in the autumn of 1874. [In September, 1875, they were numerous.—H.D.]

Molothrus pecoris, Cow Bird.—In Mr. Bartram's collection there is one example of this singular bird, which takes the place of our European Cuckoo in North America, building no nest, but depositing its eggs by stealth in the nests of Warblers, Vireos, Sparrows, &c. This solitary specimen is a male. It was £hot at Stocks Point by Mr. Bartram.

Icterus Baltimore, Baltimore Oriole; Golden Robin.—"Captain Tolcher, 56th Regiment, shot one of those birds early in October,