Page:The Zoologist, 3rd series, vol 1 (1877).djvu/441

Rh 1854, at Somerset. Mr. Hurdis found it amongst his collection of skins on the 20th of the same month, when Capt. Tolcher assured him that Mr. Harford, of his regiment, had killed another specimen about the same time, which, from being very much mutilated, he had unfortunately thrown away" (Nat. in B., p. 27). A third example, a male in splendid plumage, is in my own collection. I shot it near Hungry Bay, on April 28th, 1875. The bill and feet of this bird were bright livid blue.

Corvus americanus, American Crow.—The early history of this bird, so far as the Bermudas are concerned, is somewhat obscure. In Smith's 'History of Virginia' (to which colony Bermuda at one time belonged), date 1623, Crows are mentioned as being numerous in the Islands. Major Wedderburn says, however (Nat. in B., p. 33):—"A few of these birds are generally to be seen between the lighthouse and Hamilton. I have never found their nests, but they are known to have bred, as a few young Crows were observed near Warwick Church during the first week of April, 1849. It is supposed that they were introduced from Nova Scotia some few years ago." Mr. Hurdis did not, apparently, find the species numerous, for he says (Nat. in B., p. 66):—"In August, 1854, eleven of these Crows were observed associating together at Gibbs Hill, by the late Colonel Oakley, 56th Regiment. This was double the number which had hitherto frequented those parts, and arose, doubtless, from the young of that season." It is somewhat difficult to reconcile the above evidence. Can the species, once numerous, have become extinct, and have then been introduced again? This is possible, but I am inclined to the belief that there have been Crows, more or less, in Bermuda since 1623, their wary nature and their partiality for the dense cedar groves causing them to have been but little noticed. However it may be, they are numerous now; so much so, that a price has been set on their devoted heads by a recent enactment— half-a-crown a bird, and sixpence an egg. That this is a wise and necessary measure is universally conceded, as they do much damage in the breeding season, by destroying young poultry, and the eggs and young of the other resident birds. As is well known, this species is gregarious, except during the actual time of breeding. As soon as the young are well able to fly, the scattered families consort together. I have seen as many as sixteen in one flock in June. Three or four are commonly seen together in winter, when they frequent the rocky shores in search