Page:The Zoologist, 3rd series, vol 1 (1877).djvu/507

Rh Major Wedderburn procured several specimens between 1847 and 1850. I shot a female near the Sluice-gates on March 1st, 1875. [One was obtained at Basden's Pond in December, 1875.—H.D.]

Rallus virginianus, Virginian Rail.—One was shot by Mr.Hurdis on the 6th November, 1851. He remarks, "This is the only genuine Rail met with—a singular circumstance, when we bear in mind that all the Gallinules and Crake-Gallinules known to the continent of North America have been obtained in the Bermudas."

Porzana Carolina, Carolina Rail; Sora Rail.—Visits Bermuda regularly, arriving early in September (one has been shot on the 24th August), and remaining till November, a iew lingering on through the winter. On their vernal migration they frequently appear in considerable numbers in March and April. I have seen them as late as the 1st May. An extraordinary large flight visited the islands in October, 1849, departing in a body after a threeweeks' stay. These birds are a great nuisance to the gunner in search of Snipe and other denizens of the marshes, as they bother a dog sadly both by their numbers and their skulking habits; and they themselves are not worth powder and shot, except immediately after their arrival.

Porzana noveboracensis, Yellow Rail.—Two obtained in Pembroke Marsh by Major Wedderburn in October, 1847.

Porzana jamaicensis, Black Rail.—Observed, and also obtained, by Major Wedderburn in 1847 and 1848, and by Mr. Hurdis in 1851, always in the autumn.

Crex pratensis, Corn Crake; Land Rail.—Major Wedderburn shot the only specimen of this European bird ever obtained in Bermuda, on the 25th October, 1847, and sent a notice of its occurrence to 'The Zoologist' in 1849. At that time it was probably not known that the species is a straggler to the United States, but latterly several instances of its appearance there have been recorded, so that the fact of its being killed in Bermuda has lost much of the mystery which was originally connected with it.

Gallinula chloropus? (var. galeata), Florida Gallinule; Moorhen.—Resident, tolerably abundant, breeding in the flags and sedges in the deepest and most inaccessible parts of the marshes. Also migratory, visitors appearing in October. Like the "Sora," this is a sad pest to the snipe-shooter when working the thick places, unless his dog be as steady as old Time. The Latin name Rh