^'X/t/yxX.O'vyyr^^ ocZ^. 4Wi,Xx>cv,^t,v^ , 19 /^' 7 °' A Recent Turkey Vulture {Calharles aura seplentrionalis) in Maine, and Revision of Earlier Records. — On August 27, 1910, a Turkey Vul- ture was shot on Cape Elizabeth, Maine, and on the 30th it came into my hands. I was told that it swooped down among some chickens, and on the supposition that it was a hawk it was shot. It proved to be an adult female, with moult well advanced. It was rather fat, and with stomach nearly empty weighed about pounds, about two pounds less than the weight given by Audubon. It carried a No. 8 shot embedded and healed in the left ulna and had lost the distal joint of the middle toe of the left foot, and the next joint was stiff. This is apparently the fifth specimen to be taken and preserved in the State, though the number of accepted occurrences will now number nine. The statements of Josselyn, Pennant and Wilson cannot be regarded as affording any specific Maine records. The first appears in the Boardman and Verrill list of 1862, based upon a specimen taken near Calais.' The second is chronicled by Mr. Nathan Clifford Brown, in the ‘ Rod and Gun,’ December 15, 1874. This is the bird taken “ about the first of November ” that year in Standish, Cumberland County. Later compilers have accredited this to Mr. Everett Smith, who also recorded it.^ The ‘ New England Bird Life,’ ® in quoting from Smith, as cited, dropped the name of the town (i. e., Standish) and the word “ County,” the record there appears as Cumberland, Maine, thus taking the aspect of another record, though fortunately the citations makes the case clear to anyone having access to the literature in the case. The third specimen, taken at Buxton about the last of December, 1876, is also recorded by Mr. Brown.' The fourth, taken at Denmark, Maine, March 15, 1883, by Mr. Abel Sanborn, has been the source of considerable confusion. Apparently this was first reported in the Lewiston ‘ Gazette,’ of April 20, 1883 {fide Gushee), and what evidently is a clipping of this article is published by A. R. Gushee in ‘ Forest and Stream,’ April 26, 1883.* The place is not stated, though the capture is accredited to Abel Sanborn of East Fryeburg. In the same journal for May 10, Everett Smith presents the same record, giving the date of capture as March 15, 1883, East Fryeburg.® In 1898 Mr. James C. Mead corrected the place of capture, so the record should stand, Den- mark,' Maine, March 15, 1883. In the ‘ List of the birds of Maine ’ by O. W. Knight, this last bird ap- pears under both, the Turkey Buzzard (Gushee) * and Black Vulture (Smith) 1 Proc. Boston Soc. N. H., IX, 122. “ Forest & Stream, III, 324 (Dec. 31, 1874). > Vol. II, 137. ‘ Proc. Portland Soc. N. H., II, 23. » Vol. XX, 245. ® Ibid., 285. 7 Maine Sportsman, July, 1898, p. 13. 8 Bull. 3, Univ. of Maine, 57. ® Ibid., 58. Auk Black Vulture in Vermont. — On July 7, 1912, a Black Vulture (Catharista urubu) was shot in Pawlet, Vt., a town adjoining this but just across the New York line. It was brought to me for identification and is being mounted by a local taxidermist. It seemed to be an old bird in fine plumage and the wonder is that it should be taken several hundred miles north of its summer home. — F. T. Pembbe, Granville, N. Y. / 9 / 3 , ov uwu otner err graphical error due to one of these. nave arisen vvitn , — ui tnese. ^jr^~ J-he first error is that Mr Smith i h u recorded a Black Vulture ratLr thari a Wear to have error of one year has been made in d i an record. Third, the typogrTphTca" etor mi ^ ^-°"dary nine years later than the actual date. ®*“d 1892,3 they^“s?eni^d “or where by description. These are, oi; ZlTwZ " identified Manly Hardy,! two caught in bear trans J ! and one seen at Scarborough by RuthveTn described to Mr. Hardy® of the Turkey Buzzard should stand: ^i^® records One taken near Calais prior to 18fi'l ^ IX, 122). - ^ (Boardman, Proo. Boston Soc. N. H., One taken at Standish, November 1874 m ber 15, 1874). ’ (Brown, Rod and Gun, Decem- One taken at Buxton, Decemhpr lavc /n N. H., 11, 23). ^ (Brown, Proc. Portland Soc. One taken at Denmark, March 15 issi x. Smith, F. & S., XX, 286, and Mead mIw ^ 245; One seen at Whitney’s Hill near Bn V, July, 1898, 13). Bull. 3, Univ. of Me., p 57) ’ (Knight, OnTsltt « (-®W Auk, XXH, 79). One taken at Cape Ehzabeth, S ST’ Arthur H. Norton, Portland, Me. ’ (recorded here).- 3 Zi: Sh 79. 213. ® Birds of Maine, 213. * Bull. 3, TJniv. Me. 57 ®Auk, XXIT, 79 •Auk. xxn.rs; Journ.Me. Om. Soc., y„, rg, Auk Black Vulture in Vermont. — On July 7, 1912, a Black Vulture (Catharista uruhu) was shot in Pawlet, Vt., a town adjoining this but just across the New York line. It was brought to me for identification and is being mounted by a local taxidermist. It seemed to be an old bird in fine plumage and the wonder is that it should be taken several hundred miles north of its summer home. — F. T. Pembeb, Granville, N. Y. c4'i^.xx-x^a^. / 9/3 nr/ L /i 0 -^t>— /C(7 /~ C.- / '>h-tJxAS^ ' ^LC-ca^ e-c^A^ x-'L-A^^ fiyiy 7 ^ ^ CJ^^7^^.yCy C/. /U\^ Ci^i^Pi^ <^U ?>U4^ 4 ^ a^H'tL^ CHARLES F. NEWELL, President. J, G. GREEN, Jr., Vice President and Secretary, Brookdale Museum of Natural History. Ca tharte s aura. Object: Promotion of education in any or all branches of Zoology. FIRST CLASS SPECIMENS IN ALL BRANCHES OF NATURAL HISTORY Bought or Exchanged. Correspondence Solicited EXPRESS AND FREIGHT OFFICE, HAVERHILL, MASS,, U. S. A. Correspondence in German, Spanish and French. West Newbury, Massachusetts, U. S. A., May 13 Th 189 Mr V/i2 2aj"T Bister- Dear .Sir- HavL- yuu aney ?fse '^er- a ’^irst Class Turkey Buzzard Ap 9 1^92 Near Wil sens Beach N B On narapebelow Islands By Janes V/il son Male The Bir-oi is Meunted an has all ways ween in Olass case and so is in ’^irst class condition I refer you to Mr Georpi^A Berdman © f Calais whome '''ill F ember when this bird was sent to r>ie at .St .Stephens V. ’* I I'lave the Bird here with me and will seno. over to you if you wish I will sell it eS take exchan.ye in smaller- skins You May set the price that ii is v/orth aftr seointr '5a.me We d» nob care for Birds ta,ken in F aire l©ca,lEities for we sell tu .. orn intfe) Cash at present , Remain yours respect fuly Charles w Nevrell. Pres /If 9 3 J) t/// S^yi,-rA. ^ l^\r^ (aujU^ ^ vt iV'zu? (j^\ (^'\A^-'V\y^'^^ 0^.> /VVV » ^v>sA/v>'^ CaJ — CK.L/^(y\f^^ vjvv {rNrs^ (^X ^ r\ A/^ ^r^^v~vA. O^'^.^^y/XAO ■ff^'^v'\ — 'V'V ajva. , ^A-^^'v-,-^ tA^>w'C'^Cy'vjX^ ^3 >c-cA!>^^^ *~^ <3V„ th ^^Ar\^ / JIj,.^^ 5^ ^■Ona. , (Ar~ W-V^ (Wv^ lA^ cIkA-^UZjL 1^ Kaa. . '9'-^^r^'~i^ , I I The Turkey Buzzard in Ontario. liY W. E. SAUNDEltS, LONDON, ONT. Tlie Turkey Buzzard has so far been pub- lished only from tiie extreme west end of the Province, but in January, 1887, one was trapped twelve miles west of London, which I saw alive : in March in a barn, where it was confined. It 1 was quite lively, and on being caught by its 3 owner, disgorged some of its dinner for our in- " spcction. It fed greedily on carrion, and generally al- lowed itself to be handled without demur. Men- tioning the occurrence in June, 1887, to my friend, Mr. L. II. Smith, of Strathroy, Ont., he said one was shot there a few months before, and in the preceding summer a newly stuifed ^ one had been left in a store there for some weeks. In May, 1887, there was mention in a paper of one killed seventeen miles northeast of London early in the month; and in the collection of Mr. John Dodds, St. Thomas, I saw another, and ho informed me that he had mounted sev- eral local specimens. As the previous spec- imens have all been recorded from the extreme west of Ontario, those notes are probably wor- thy of record, as showing eitlier progress or chance occurrence ton miles farther east than hitherto recorded. / O.AO. XIII. June. 1888 p.94 ^ cO l3 V' vx S CO ( c k o t c j . « ^ A Turkey Buzzard {Cai/iarfes aura) was captured in March, 1898, in Victoria County, N. B., and another seen at Keswick, York County, N. B., the same spring. Auk, XVII, April, 1900. p. /77 Turkey Vulture at Moose Factory, James Bay.— The Rt. Rev. Dr. Newnhan, Bishop of Moosonee, examined a Turkey Vulture aura) taken by one of his men at Moose Factory in June, 1898. The record was given to me the following year, but I neglected to record it.— J. H. Fleming, Toronto, Ont. Atlk, XX, Jan., 1903 , p Birds of Toronto, Canada, by James K. Fleming, Part II, Land Birds, AuL , XXIV, Jan., 1907, p.72. 119. Cathartes aura. Turkey Vulture. — Accidental. One was killed in the township of Pickering (about 30 miles east of Toronto), in 1887. V Turkey Buzzard, Cathartes aura . — April 24, 1908, I received a bird of this species in the flesh from Point Pelee, Ontario . It was perfectly fresh and could not have been killed more than a couple of days. On dissection it proved to be a female with ovaries considerably enlarged. We have had reports of this bird’s breeding near Harrow, about eighteen miles west of the Point, and have seen birds on Point Pelee itself May 20, 1906 (Willson Bull., 1907, 91). — P. A. Taverner, Highland Park, Mich. Auk 25 . July - 1908 The Turkey Buzzard (Cari/iartes aura) in Maine. — While driving at Scarboro Beach, Me., on August 5, 190^), my attention was directed to a large bird flying over the woods several hundred rards back from the road. I at first took it to be an eagle but at second glance the charac- teristic sailing of the bird, with tips of wings raised, left no doubt as to its identity. The Buzzard crossed the road behind us, circling over the salt marshes of the Libby River, and finally recrossed the road directly over our carriage and sufficiently near for us to distinctly see the crimson head and neck. In replying to a letter sent to Mr. Ora' W. Knight for other Maine records, he has very kindly given me the following information under date of August 9, 1904. “Replying to your inquiry relative to the Turkey Buzzard in Maine, I will say that I have the following unquestionable records: One taken at Standish, Cumberland County, in summer of 1874 (cf. Smith, Forest & Stream, Vol. XX, p. 26) ; one taken in Denmark, Oxford Countv, March, 1882, by Abel Sanborn and now in his possession. (This specimen was recorded by R. A. Gushee in Forest & Stream, for 1883, p. 245, and the same specimen was erroneously recorded as Black Vulture by Smith, For- est & Stream, Vol. XX, p. 285 ; it has, however, been seen within a year by a number of persons who can vouch that it is a Turkey Vulture, not a Black Vulture). Mr. Boardman had one specimen taken near his home in Calais; one was killed in Buxton in December, 1876 (cf. Brorvn, Catalogue Birds of Portland, p. 23). “All the above records have been carefully verified by inquiry and examination of specimens by undoubted authorities. A few other records have been found to really refer to the Black Vulture or were not suscepti- ble of verification.” Mr. Manly Hardy of Brewer, Me., under date of September 8, 1904, wrote me as follows : — “ Seeing a Turkey Buzzard is a very unusual thing in this State. Some years ago 1 saw one at Whitney’s Hill, near Bangor. It was in a small ash tree in a large open field. It was late in November, after all the Hawks were gone. It was a warm sunny day and he sat with his wings stretched above his head just like the one on the ‘Buzzard dollar.’ I have seen hundreds of Buzzards but I have never seen any other bird sit in this way. I know of two cases of their having been caught in bear- traps. The hunters did not know what they were but told me of their bare red heads and white bills, so there could be no question of identity.” Mr. G. A. Boardman in his ‘ Catalogue of the Birds found in the vicinity of Calais, Maine,’ etc., published in 1862, records one specimen as referred to by Mr. Knight, but in a copy of this list which he sent me in 1872, with additions and corrections up to date, under Turkey Buzzard he has interlined, “ 2 since.” This last record therefore makes the tenth for the State. — Rutiiven DeauEi, Chicago, III. ^ o i-i a Auk. XAH, J tnt ,1905, p . 7 ^ A Correction. — In my note on ‘ The Turkey Buzzard in Maine ’ (Auk, XXII, p. 78.) I stated that the present record made the tenth for the State. I included two specimens which Mr. Boardman added to a revised list which he sent me in 1873. Mr. Ora W. Knight has called my attention to the fact that the title of Mr. Boardman’s list ‘ Catalogue of the Birds found in the vicinity of Calais, Maine,’ admits a number of records for the vicinity but over the State line, and that Mr. Boardman had informed him by letter that the two buzzards in question were records for New Brunswick. This fact reduces the legitimate number for the State to eight. — Ruthven Deane, Chicago, III. Auk, XXU, Apr.. 1905, p - The Turkey Buzzard in New Hampshire. — A specimen of Cathar- tes aura was shot this spring near Hampton Falls, N. H., by Mr. Frank Percell. The bird was killed April 6th or 7th, and received by Mr. C. I. Goodale on the 8th., When I examined it on the loth it was still quite fresh. — Charles B. Cory, Boston, Mass. Bail. N. 0 . 0 , 7 , July. 1882, p. XLu^ cLloul Cl 0 h ^,/f\jL.aJL oJryuJr « h L|c/vu /^X^\^ju^oL viu, yuuuCu) < QJV -^iXcC^XO LAjAjLtA. 3 Hcl/slA' umjlAl . Lj cn^ J hjujL L/o JuuiJLe^ (^.u/^- i/w UJjL^cAt^ Vu^^^AA- AaAl h c3 \A>-t^u4ajC (X/Uy'Cc<_| . iM'Ao Vl^UL^U^JL fj^f LcmJ' yyunAjJ^ cxj-t^ UJ-Aji/^ d / ^HyvzU ^3 Vujht^rcX cfet-^C^ J^IajjUJ^ U Cl-cd h /^Ccof dMla^ JjiACl ^ S r\AJJCL / S S^AunAi2 fvCuiM. Cq AJmu j^inHU .AJjl. lAj^ 't3J 'J aware ui lue rarity ui luy uiru lu iixasaav^uuocits, the specimen was not preserved, but Mr. Morgan considered the specimen to be in young plumage. I will also record the Indigo Bunting as being found in the same locality, as, on several occa- sions I saw a pair which occupied a tliicket near the roadside during -June and July. — 11. 0. White. 0.&O.XI.Oct.l886.p. /f'/. The Turkey Buzzard in Massachusett<; mn, j 9. i 888, a fanner in West Falmouth Mnsc moiming, Sept. fine .specimen of the Turkey Buzzard fC«// / ^ barnyard a to be in the town when the bird was shot, ari’selnrd U T in very gfood Dlumfio-p u- ^ ‘-cuiea it. It is a feina e .o.n ii„ r; , r, zrr, t" "" north. It had evidently not eaten much recently -E^/rS T Af'hngton, Mass. . , .r <-■ Mason, Auk /^. ?. /^f/. ^CoJL ^ ^ ^ f / 6y fi‘^Aj~4l{j KAJ'\^CZ^ (A/\AA^// , K Y y ^ '52 c 6 -v«^ ^vC O^ ilJ-'^O-'-A/^ i/^i^ ^A-t--t>^^^ /^I'C^t.'VA. ^ /i^- ^/J Ar.A4A.>^ Occurrence of the Turkey Buzzard in Massachusetts. A Turkey Buzzard (GatJiartes aura), was sliot by a boy at Annisquam, Mass., on September 14th. and brought into the Seaside Labratory of the Boston Society of Natural History, situated at that place. The bird was fully identified by Mr. T. H. Morgan, of Lexington, Ky., who is in- terested in the study of ornithology, and per- fectly familiar with the buzzards in all plumages. On account of the lack of time and not being aware of the rarity of the bird in Massachusetts, the specimen was not preserved, but Mr. Morgan considered the specimen to be in young plumage. I will also record the Indigo Bunting as being found in the same locality, as, on several occa- sions I saw a pair -which occupied a thicket near the roadside during June and July. — II. Q. White. O.&O. XI. Oct.l886.p. j 5'^. to b» ,n tl„ town when tte bird w„. ,b„i, „,d j'u 1° in very good plumage The hiVH “• « is a female town before it was shot, and fromXnrr.earn^JTimt T" north. It had evidentlv rtdif ^ that it came from the >-ece^Iy.-Eow.nn C. M.sok, Auk, VI. Jan. 1 1889. p. 7(? . HI Four of the hoys at the Thomiison Island Institution, while at play May 30, discovered a Turkey JUizzai' , was sent to us by W. W. Hill, Thompson’s Island is situated in Boston Harbor, less than two miles from the city wharves. The bird was as fragrant as the average. ^ XIV. June. 1885 p. 95 SaBtem M«sg. M.A.Pra.ar. at?s1e“ T wV ^ turke^burt , taken , «0 the coUec. : SOT. & Stria. April 24. 1800. p.2a8 Recent Occurrence of the Turkey Vulture in Eastern Massachusetts— Messrs. Goodale and Frazar, the Boston taxidermists, have latelv mounted a Turkey Vulture which was shot at Essex, Massachusetts, Nov. i6, 1S89 The species has been bought for the Essex County collection of the Peabody Museum of Salem. There are records of four previous occur- rences in tlie State, one by Samuels (Agr. Mass., Secy’s Rep. 1S63, App., p. xviii) of two specimens taken in iS6^another by Maynard (Nat. Guide’ 1S70, 137) of a bird seen in Waltham, August, 1867, and a third by Mason (Auk, VI, Jan., 1889, p. 71') of an example shot in West Falmouth, Sept. 9, 1888. Two supposed “Massachusetts instances,” referred toby Dr. Coues in New England Bird Life (II, 1883, 137), have been since shown by Mr. llenA (Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., No 7, 1886, 242 (foot-note), to really relate to Maine instead of Massachusetts. — William Brewster, Cam- bridge, Mass. Auk, VII. A»rii.l» 90 .p. 10 *^- 206 " we notice in the April ^ p. 214) in a note on the «“""Xe7 has oy-^kecl a ture in M assachusetts the writer has over Sl^nre in lioston Harboi, o. & <>■ (O. & o. Veh XIV, p. 90 ) at that time, slioulil he read more carefully. O.&o, XV, Apr. 1890 p General IJoteS ’ Cathartes aura. — During the latter part of June, 1892, while spending a few days at North Truro, I was told that a Portuguese family in the village had a living ‘Bald Eagle’ which they had caught slightly wounded. My informant assured me that the bird must be a Bald Eagle, for he had seen it and had noticed particularly that it had no feathers on its head. On looking into the matter I found, as I expected, a Turkey Buzzard. The bird had been caught near the boundary line between North Truro and Provincetown about June 20, but refused all food and died the night before my visit (June 26). It proved to be an adult male in good plumage, but had evidently received a charge of No. 8 shot, nearly a dozen of which a / ’ rl ’ 10 a rap on niy were lodged in various parts of the body. — Gerrit S. Miller, Jr., ’ says, I have a bird her,^ - T Cambridge, Mass. Auk: IX, Oct. 1892. o.397 Brief Notes, On Ajiril 20 , in answer to , , a bird here ; I ou d hke to know what it is.” So we took It the bird, which was stuffed into a large paper bag with a lot of paper wound around his head and throat filled with old rags Well to tell the truth, I was stuck for a min- ute, but told him I guessed it was a Turkey iizzard which proved to be the fact when I looked him up. This is the only one I ave ever heard of in eastern Massachusetts. Have they been taken in this vicinity before ? - West Duxbury, Mass. . 0 .& O.VoLlS, July, 1888 Ptl 07 Oeiieral Notes. Turkey Vulture in Eastern Massachusetts. — Mr. II. W. Page of Boston called my attention some time ago to a Turkey Buzzard {Cat/iar- tes aura) which was taken in Weston, Massachusetts, early in April, 1893, and I visited the bird April 5, 1894. Mr. Samuel Smith, who has a farm in the western part of the town of Weston (about fourteen miles west of Boston), shot the bird there, merely breaking its wing. He has kept the bird ever since out of doors in a netting cage about five feet square with a box to retire to, having one side open ; he has fed the Vulture on raw fish, raw beef, muskrats, etc., and the bird appeared to me to be in verj^ good condition, except for the general condition of its plumage and the fact that the broken wing set in such a way that it is held at an unnatural angle, slightly elevated. — Francis Beach White, Cambridge, Mass- iSX* Jxily* 1894 p# 250 The “bald eagle” shot by H. A, Rowell of Williamstowu last December proves to I be a turkey buzzard and has been stalled fey Taxidermist Joseph' iSirimes. These birds are very rarely seen so far north in |i winter. The Turkey Vulture in Western Massachusetts. — A young Turkey Vulture (Cat/iartes aura) was captured by Walter Stanley in Becket, a town in Massachusetts, thirty-five miles west of Springfield, June 8, 1905. The bird was observed in a field eating a dead lamb, and was then killed and sent to the Museum of Natural History in this city. — Robert O. Morris, Springfield, Mass. 2CX11, Oot., 1900, p .V^3, The Turkey Vulture {Catharies aura) in Somerville, Mass. — Mr. F. II. Ilosmer (who assures me that he knows tlie bird well) informs me that he saw three Turkey Buzzards, very high up in the air, in Somerville, Mass.', on Sept. 25, 1S9S. They were lieaded south. On the 24th strong southwest winds prevailed in this vicinity, previous to wliich there had been high winds at the south. — George II. Nantucket, Mass. Auk, XVI, April, 1899, p. / 2/- 1 /3 Cathartes aura. Nahant, Mass. 7 ^ - r, A^. 107, ]3eacoTi ^treet. 4 / 0 Turkey Vulture {Cathartes aura septentrionalis) at Martha’s Vine- yard, Mass — On July 25, 1913, I watched an immature Turkey Vulture on the west bank' of Squibnocket Pond. The bird was evidently very much interested in something below him on the shore. After hovering and circling for a short time, he ahghted on the ground behind some bay- berry bushes. Upon showing my head above the shrubbery, the vulture swept majesticaUy away; and, followed by a pestering Kingbird, soon disappeared into the blue sky.- G. Noble, Another Massachusetts Record for the Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura septentrionalis). — On July 24 of this year, I was watching a Red-tailed Hawk over Higgins’ Pond in Truro, Cape Cod, Mass., when a large black bird appeared from the southeast and flew with slow wing-beats across the pond, rather low and at no great distance from me, and then mounted soaring into the air. Though I had become familiar with the Turkey Vulture on a visit to Virginia some years ago, I did not at once recognize it in Massachusetts, where this species does not ordinarily come into our reckoning, but soon the size, color, long outstretched wings with the tips of the primaries well separated, and comparatively long, rounded tail iden- tified the bird positively as Cathartes aura and presumably of the subspecies septentrionalis. Presently it dropped to a lower level and sailed straight on motionless wings in the direction of Slough Pond, half a mile away to the north. On reaching Slough Pond, I failed to find the Vulture but startled an immature Bald Eagle from its perch on the farther shore, and while watching it move off in circles towards the west, I saw two other soaring birds in the distance, probably the Red-tailed Hawk and the Turkey Vulture. Meeting with these three fine birds in such close succes- sion, each one larger than the last, was an interesting experience, and the Turkey Vulture is uncommon enough in Massachusetts to make it seem worth while to record the occurrence. — Francis H. Allen, West Roxhury, Mass. JruM- X'AXl, £rj 6. of the Black Vulture (Catharista urubu) and Lbrad^r Xted T mrnrnanm heterocnemis), and all specimens are preserved in myLLeSn" Covf m’'***^ VULTOBE. On May 12; 1916, atTigeon Cove, Mass., a specimen was taken, sex undetermined. - ^9/^, 'i_3Q. The Turkey Buzzard near Schenectady, N. Y. — I have been an inter- ested reader of ‘The Auk’ for many years, during which time I have by degrees become educated to the fact that the Turkey Buzzard {Cathartes aura) has a penchant for roaming far afield. A few weeks ago I examined a stuffed specimen at the home of the owmer, Mr. W. Mephan, who killed it on a Saturday afternoon in June, 1899. The bird was first observed roosting high on the dead branches of the tree from which he was shot. The bird was killed on the Toll farm situated in the town of Glenville, [ about three miles northwest of Schenectady. There is no question as to' the authenticity of this record for the reason that I am personally ac- quainted with the brother of the man who killed the bird, and who was present at the time it was killed. I believe this is the most northerly record for the State. — Langdon Gibson, Schenectady, N. Y. Auk lio. Jniy-ie08 The Turkey Buzzard ne^r Scheiiecta;dy, N. Y. — I have been an inter- ested reader of ‘The Auk’ for many years, during which time I have by degrees become educated to the fact that the Turkey Buzzard {Cathartes aura) has a penchant for roaming far afield. A few weeks ago I examined a stuffed specimen at the home of the owner, Mr. W. Mephan, who killed it on a Saturday afternoon in June, 1899. The bird was first observed roosting high on the dead branches of the tree from w'hich he was shot. The bird W'as killed on the Toll farm situated in the town of Glen\'ille, about three miles northwest of Schenectady. There is no question as to the authenticity of this record for the reason that I am personally ac- quainted with the brother of the man who killed the bird, and who was present at the time it was killed. I believe this is the most northerly record for the State. — Langdon Gibson, Schenectady, N. Y. Aok lio- Jniy-1808 401- Turkey Buzzard [and] Golden-iuinged Warbler. By J. H. Sage. Ibid., p. 141.— The former shot at North Stonington, Conn. ; the latter at Portland, Conn. a&: vo'i.YU a Turkey Buzzard. — Oliver G. Brown, of eg 03 00 North Stonington, Conn., shot a Turkey Buzzard, April 20th, that measured six ^ feet from tip to tip of its wings. It was ^ shot on the ground while feeding on the ^ dead body of a hen. There were no {> other Buzzards about. It was mounted q by A. M. Taft, of Westerly, E. I., and is ^ now in the possession of George D. O Brown, of Stonington, Conn. The Turkey Vulture in donnect'icut. — While out driving in Old Lyme, Conn., August 31, I was much surprised to note a Turkey Buz- zard {^Cathartes aura) in company with a Red-shouldered Hawk flying around a small patch of woods. This is the first one I have seen so far north as Connecticut. — Arthur W. Brockway, Lyme, Conn. Birds Tioga Oo, N,T. Aldeil Lormif. | 459 . Turkey Buzzard. Rare. But one of those has come under my observation; tliat was shot about five miles south of here. * Os ^Og XV, Jon©. 1890 , pTse 'ii 6 S. Occurrence of Turkey Buzzard on Long Island. By Robert B^ Lawrence 75 , No. 4, Aug. 19, p. 64.-8000 at Flushing, Aug. 2, 1885. Van. Si Stream, Vol.XXVH ^ The Turkey Buzzard in Central New York.— I have lately examined all that remain.s of a Cathartcs aura which was killed in Oneida County, N. Y., in May, 1879. When first seen he was in company with three others in a small grove in Westmoreland Township, and was shot by Mr. Lavello J. Groves, of that town, who had him mounted and preserved. This is cer- tainly the first record for the County and, I think, for this part of the State.— Egbert Bagg, Jr., Utica, N. I'Auk, 2 , Jan., 1886 . The Turkey Buzzard in Western New York. — Turkey Buzzard {Catkartes aura) was shot at Kendall Mills, ten miles northwest of this town, May 23, 1884, by a farmer named George lloft'man. He saw the bird sitting on the top of a dead tree near where he was at work, and by a well- directed shot with his rifle brought it to the ground. The bird was purchased by Mr. D. T. Bruce, a taxidermist of Brockport, and is now in his collection. The specimen was recorded by Mr. Bi uce in the ‘Brockport Republic' of May 29, 1884; but the occurrence seems worthy of a more accessible and permanent record. — J. T. Fraser, Brockfori, IT. T. Auk, I. July, 1884 . V. ^ 93 . LouB IsUnd Bird Not©s. Wm. Dutok.r K Cathartes aura. Turkey Vulture.-Mv. Knoess, c n- -1 eml informed me tVmt he mounted a specimen of this of Rivet 1 , James A. Tohnston, of Brook- 7“ "i; E B jlnE, in lose .ossess.oo Use bi,1 now !„:E L bi.A ..o„e ,nne Ben ll.n village of Greenport, ‘'‘"igsk P. - ^ r A in Forest and Stream, Aug. 19, 1886, t A later Long Island record may be found m Forest p. 64. Bird Notes from Xjong T a 1 o 15. Cathartes aura. Turkey Vulture. — Since making my previous record* on this species I have secured several others through the kindness of Mr. Alfred Marshall, an Associate Member of the Union. The records were all made at the extreme southwestern portion of the Island, Mr. Marshall residing in Flatbush, Kings Co. The following is a copy' of his notes: “September 5, 1S77, Mr. Johnston says, ‘The flagman on the Manhattan Beach R. R., at the Parkville crossing, saw a large bird flying about six feet from the ground, and as it flew by succeeded in stunning it with a stone. He afterward saw it and found it to be a Turkey Vulture in splendid condition.’ June 9, 1885, Mr. Johnston also saw two flying over his residence at Parkville, and again on August 26, of the same year, he saw another. July 19, i886, he saw still another, being pursued by a Crow. The Vulture mounted to a great height, the Crow following. In May, 1885, I saw one, and May 16, the following year, I saw another. It was sitting on the top of a dead tree near Ocean Avenue, Greenfield, Kings Co. Two or three wagons drove by while I was watching the bird, but it did not fly, so I crept under the tree to get a good view of it. After watch- ing it for ten minutes, I threw a stone to start it, but it did not fly until I hit the limb it was sitting on ; then it flew to another tree about fifty yards off and commenced cleaning its feathers. It was about 5 a.m. when I saw the bird first. I think it had been eating and had gorged itself. These are all the notes I can collect, and Ibelieve they cover the visits of this Vulture in our locality for the past decade.” Auk, V, April, 1888 . p.l 7 ' 7 -/g' 0 . O P CD ri* bjD • n . o . rt s: o o ^ E o E <9 3 “ 9 ^ C (u O CO CO a CO Ai qj ^ M << O > S 5 == to § « S § § w ») .tj .5 ” ^ ^ -S J:; C s 'A ° i js - S 2Z « g S 5 ^ u 5 2 “ S u S “V D ? . 5 Z -B G 9 .£3 i 9 2 ^ O ^ C c a: 9 9 9 9 Q >> 9 „ A! A Ui jS ^ , 3 o E" G 0 ) bO b A ^ > o c H 3 S k CO O « . G 9 G -C tv bxi p 3 .z a 9 9 9 9 rt 9 CO ■5 c bC c o bjj . * Auk, 1886, Vol. in, p. 439. Auk. XVII. Jan. , 1900, p./o. Auk, XIV, Apr., 1897 . p , ^3./. ytCuJ ■ ■ aura, — A specimen of this bird was winged near May in this county, in August. 1896, and is still kept alive in this city second record. nard. Our Auk, XTII, Oct., 1890 , p>^. ?V/-.e. The Turkey Vulture in the Catskills— Dr. H. II. Rusbv informs me that on September i, 1896, he saw a Turkey Vulture {Cathartes aura) at Ulsterville, Ulster County, N. Y. The bird at one time was sailing about within twenty yards of a number of observers, some of whom were familiar with the species in the South.— Frank M. Chapman, American Museum of Natural History, New York City. 815. A Rare Visitor. By Thirlstane [=z David Thirslane Bruce]. Brockfort[N. T.). Republic, May 29, 1884.— Capture of Cathartes aura< neai Brockport, N. Y. (See Auk, I, p. 293, where the same specimen is again recorded.) (^.,cyvr^. Cathartes aura, Turkey Vulture. — A young male taken in town of Kendall, May 23, 1884. (See Auk, Vol. I, No. 3, July, 1884.) Mr. David Bruce of Brockport now has this specimen. Also an adult' male taken in the town of Clarendon , July iS, 1891, and now in the New York State Museum at Albany. (See Auk, Vol. IX, No. 2, April, 1892.) . Auk, XVI, ApTil, 1899 , p^./>-^ CTlr^ Cathartes aura. — The geographical distribution ot the Turkey Vulture is one of the most interesting facts connected with its histor3'. Occurring regularly but a short distance south of our limits, and often seen even in the winter but fifty miles south of us (Trenton, N. J.), and being a bird of such well-known powers of flight, it yet so rarely occurs north of its regular haunts that it is as if a well recognized line demarked its limits, beyond which its occurrence is extremely singular. A bird of this spe- cies was shot at Rockaway Beach by Mr. R. L. Peavey of Brooklyn, on Julj ^ 5 < 1899, in whose fine collection of mounted birds it now is. Length of specimen, 29 inches ; wing, 21 inches. (Lxm c_sL^2yL.>. <7 l/VuUUL. C. i Cathartes aura. Mr. Robt. L. Peavey, of this city, secured a specimen of the Turkey Vulture at Rockaway Beach, June 21, 1902. A former specimen secured by him at the same place, three years previously, I have recorded in this journal (Auk, XVII, 1900, p. 70). Atlk, XX, Jan.. 1908 . p. t''3^ %o Notes concerning certain Birds of Long Island, N.Y. Cathartes aura. Mr. Robt. Peavey, who killed the two specimens of this species before recorded by me, shot two additional specimens, one of which he has presented to the Museum of the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences. ^Villiain C.Braislin, II. D. Brooklyn, n.y. Ank, ji 1:1, Apr., 190 .-. ...2S/-2SS- Q-rtei'd' ’Tom'f', Cathartes aura. Turkey Vulture. A very fine male specimen of this vulture has been added to my collection through the generosity of Mr. Roy Latham of Orient Point. Mr. Latham briefly stated the facts of its occur- rence in his record of the species of birds observed by him at Orient Point on Dec. 22, 1907, which was published in the ‘Bird-Lore’ Christmas bird- census (Vol. X, 1908, p. 29). Mr. Latham informed me that the bird was unable to fly when first discovered by him on the beach. It was at once evident that it was disabled, and it was found that it had some foreign substance in its throat. This had, no doubt, prevented it from eating for so long a time that it had become too weak to fly. The cause of the obstruction in the throat was found to be a bone of an animal of consider- able size.' Mr. Latham extracted the bone and removed the bird to his home, where it was cared for and protected. He fed the bird, and found that it ate greedily of stale fish. Despite his care, however, it did not sur- vive the following night. Auic li3, Turkey Vulture in Northern Steuben County, N. Y. — A female Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura septentrionalis) was shot by a farmer in the town of Pulteney, Steuben Co., N. Y., July 11, 1909, and the skin is now in the possession of Richard Cowan, Bluff Point, N. Y. There were eleven of the vultures feeding on a dead hog in a gully. — Verdi Burtch, Branchport, ^ ^ Aok 27.AprolfllOp. Black Vulture m Stuben CountyTJK'Y-— A Correction.— In ‘The Auk,’ Volume XXVII, page 208, will be foithd a note by me on the taking of a Turkey Vulture in northern Steuben Co., N. Y., on July 11, 1909. Mr. Cowan, in whose possession the specimen was, told me abput it and I had faith in his judgment as he had Chapman’s ‘Handbook’ and I had cau- tioned him to be sure of the identification. I have since had the pleasure of examining the specimen and find it to be without a doubt a Black Vul- ture (Catharista urubu). I regret that the error was made and my note written but am glad to be able to make the correction and record the speci- men, as it seems to be the first record of the Black Vulture for Steuben County and the fourth for western New York. — Verdi Burtch, Branch- port, N. Y. SI, ttX,. A-lbinietic Pltunages. B. Deane. 24. Cathartes aura. Turkey Buzzard. — Mr. S. N. Khoads, of Haddonfield, N. J., informs me of a specimen which he saw in Pennsyl- vania, August, 1879, showing white primaries and secondaries of both wings. Mr. C. H. Nauman records an albino C. aura, shot near Smyrna, Fla. (Am. Nat., Vol. IV, p. 376). Finding a Turkey Buzzard’s Nest. BY C. S. BRIMLEY, RALEIGH, N. C. In the early morning of May 20, 1887, I started out to investigate a good-sized tract of woods which I had always looked upon as be- ing in all probability the favorite breeding grounds of warblers and all other birds; the land, however, being strictly -‘posted” and near to the owner’s house, I had never cared to collect there, not wanting to get into trouble with ray neighbors. Accordingly I left my gun at home, and only supplied myself with plenty of boxes, full of cotton, to receive the eggs I expected to get. Well, I traversed those woods east to west, from north to south, and I followed branches and peered into thickets, but I only found two old nests, and the scarcity of bird life was ! siiiiply appalling. At last, however, as I was' walking along a branch and had completely lost my bearings, and was wondering which way to got out of the place (as i was heartily sick of it), thei-e came a flapping of wings as some large bii'd flew uj) from the hillside on my right. 1 turned and caught a glimpse of a large black bird through the trees, which I at once recognized as a Turkey Buzzard (Cathar- tes aura). Ihiukiug it might possibly have a nest near by, I tui-ned my attention to the slope it had flown up from, and as I was looking about for a suitable situation for the nest, my glance fell on a good-sized pine log which had evidently lain there for sevei'al years. I immediately hui 1 ied thither, and a search soon revealed the desired nest (?) if a bare spot from which the bird had scratched awa}- the dead leaves and other rubbish, could be so called. Here, re- posing oil the b.are ground close to the fallen pine, lay the two large eggs, one handsomely marked with large distinct spots and splashes, on a clear white ground, the other dirty look- ing, with splashes, small spots, and dots which obscured the ground color. Hastily packing up the eggs, I retired from the nest, as it smelt too unsavory, and the murky odor of a Buzzaid is not pleasant. On leaving the place, I presently discovered the old bird on the lower limbs of a large pine some seventy feet from the ground, walking backwards and forwards, i drooping her wings and giving vent to a harsh I wheezy sound as if she was a confirmed asth- * matic. o.&o. Xm. Jnne. 1888 / A PhiladelphiaCcllection of Eggsof the RaptoreB. Cathartes sets of two. eggs. aura. Turkey Buzzard. Total: thirteen sots, d’hirteen twenty-six 0-&0. XIV. Mar. 1889 p.4€ Oollection of Raptores Eggs. J.P.N. Turkey liuzzard. 2(5 Unmarked Eggs of the Turkey Vul- ture. BY H. E. TAYLOR, ALAMEDA, CAL. In the pretty hills of the southwest part of Santa Clara Co., Cal., I took a set of eggs early in April which I regarded as unique, and from what I have read of the speies, I was cor- rect in that belief. The set was of the Turkey Vulture (Cat/iarte.? aura), two eggs, and both of them were im- maculate. All the eggs of this bird I have ever seen were both heavily and richly marked, which makes the peculiarity in this set strik- ingly odd. I am not prepared at this writing to make comparisons, but these white eggs seem to me much lai-ger than is usual. There is quite a marked difference also in the size of the two specimens. I found the eggs in a natural hollow in the side of an immense rock, about six feet from the ground. The hole ex- tended in about three and one half feet, and its walls were almost perfectly smooth. O.&O. XIII. Jul y . 1888 p .io.^. The Turkey Buzzard, tC athartes aura'i . This is a very common bird in southwestern Louisiana. It is a per- manent resident, but its nest is but sparingly found. Last year wlille surveying a line through the woods, near Ver- million River, we found a nest, if that may be called a nest, “which nest was none.” A large Red Oak had fallen, and become hollow, and one side gone— rotted away on the un- der side. The nest was on the ground under the shelter of this old tree, which made a dry place. 1 here were four young in the nest, about the size of a Bob White, ora little less. 1 hey were white as cotton, and showed little or no fear. 'I here was a loud odor pervading the place, and the ground was bare of all vegetation for some distance around, which seemed to have been killed by the strong excrement and offal of the birds. I did not observe any old birds about in the trees. 1 he nest was in a very loneiy place, and one seldom visited by man. 'there is something strange in the power the Turkey Buzzard possesses (in common with some other birds,) of soaring. I have watched them often soaring for an hour, perhaps, without the movement of a wing, and without any apparent descent toward the earth. '1 hey can even rise a little distance with- out moving the wings, but when they wish to rise much they Hop the wing. 1 have observed them when soaring very low, and quite near me. 'I'heir wings, tail and body are set at an angle like a kite; and they go right against the wind fora short distance. No explanation, I believe of this phenomenon has ever been ofl'ered, although the facts are admitted, I think. What mysterious power en- ables them to apparently set the law of gravity at deliance ? Is there some miktwioii force in motion which they bring into action ? W ho can answer ? The 'Turkey Buzzard, for tlie spread of its wing, is an exceedingly light bird. Can it be possible that the temperature of its body is such as to generate a suffloient amount of heat under its broad spread- ing pinions to sustain it in the air, on the principle of the hot air balloon ? Can it create an ascending column of hot air under itself, sutlicient to support its light body ? W ho will solve this problem ?— W. W. Edwards, A bbeville, La. O.&O. XV. Apr. 1890. p. 50 ig87.] Sayles on the Sense of Smell in Catkaries aitfa. 51 Gosse, Bds. Jam. p. i (1847). — Bryant, Pr. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist. Vh, p. 104 (1859) (Bahamas) ; ib. Brewer, p. 306 (i860) (Cuba). — O. 1862, p. 303 (Jamaica). — March, Pr. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1863, p. 150 (Jamaica). — Gundl. Repert. Fisico-Nat. Cuba, I, p. 221 (1865); ib.].i. O. 1871, p. 253 (Cuba). — Cory, Bds. Bahama I. p. 134 (1880). — A. & E. Newton, Handb. Jamaica, p. Ill (1881). — Cory, List Bds. VV. I. p. 23 (1885). Recorded from the'’'jSaJiai[ pas, C uba, and Jamaica. Genus Catharis'ta Vieill. Catharista Vieillot, Analyse, p. 21, 1816. Catharista atral%»»«JBAKTR,) . Vultnr atraius JiAKTR. Trav. Car. p. 285 (1792). Cathartes atratus March, Pr. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phifk,. 1863, p. 151 (Ja- maica).: — A. & E. Newton, Handb. Jamaica, p. iif'(T88i). Catharistp atrata CoRY, List Bds. W. 1 . p. 23 (1885). TlRs^species is claimed to have occurred in Jamaica. TSio West Indian record. THE SENSE OF SMELL IN CATHARTES AURA. BY IRA SAYLES. In the ‘Standard Natural History,’ edited by John Sterling Kingsley, published by S. E. Cassin & Co., Boston, Vol. IV, p. 271, in an article written by Walter B. Barrows, I read as follows : “The name condor, Humboldt says, is from a word in the language of the Incas, signifying to smell,” and adds : ‘There is nothing more astonishing than the almost inconceivable sagac- ity with which the condor distinguishes the odor of flesh from an immense distance.’” Mr. Barrows then adds : “This belief in the extraordinary power of smell possessed by carrion vultures is largely an inher- ited or traditional one, and was long ago shown to be without foundation. That they have some smell is well known, and Owen has even shown that in the turkey buzzard the olfactory nerves ^^A^^ield.Yol 439 The Semes op Sight ahd SMBLH.-Dayton, O.-Sditor Am^tcanField:-! vefidBirdo'^ article on the senses of sight and smell, m buzzards, in your issue of September 3, with much interest. But I think Mr. Birdo is mistaken in this case, although he says he made experiments which con- vince him that buzzards find their food by smell and not by sight. The authority is too reliable regarding the sense of sight in buzzards to admit of any doubt that they find their r ^ lie took the body of a dead dog, which had lain for two days, and already showed signs of decomposition, and concealed it in a fence corner under a dense growth of bushes. Further he says: he wind was blowing from the southwest, and I observed e buzzards searched the air persistently about forty yards from the dog on the northwest side. It was plainly to be Men tkat they were guided by scent. The same wind had wafted the odor to their nesting place on the bluff, nearly a mile away. At length they gave up the search and disap. peared. Now, if the sense of smell had attracted the buz. wds from over a mile, to within forty yards of the object of their search, why did they not succeed in finding it ^ Simply because the dog was not visible. I regard Audu- bons experiments as infallible; his investigations cannot be doubted, for they were too thoroughly executed. It is taken for granted by the scientific world, that buzzards find their carrion by sight alone. Again, Birdo says : “Any one ought to know that a buzzard sitting on its roost cannot see its food three miles away, but as soon as decomposition sets in he will sniff it from afar and fly to it.” It is under- ^ood they cannot see their food from a distance of three miles, and this is not necessary, for buzzards do not leave whTntrvT^^^r’ compelled by hunger, when they leave to go in search of food. Their flight is seen by other buzzards, and they are naturally attracted un. 1 1 there are as high as twenty in the flock. These can easily survey an area of from two to three miles. If any carrion is found by one buzzard, the others will notice this^ ".T ; think Birdo had better extend his experiments more fully, as It IS hardly possible to draw conclusions from this sinrfe Td oTers^““"* numerous experiments of Audubon — Unknown. The Sense of Smell in Cathartes aura. To THE Editors of the Auk A2/-.S;— In his article in the January nuinberof this Journal, Mr. Ira Sayles has added another instance to the already long list of fallacious Jiido^’ the lemaikable power of scent in the American Vultures. Imioring the fact that there is certainly room for some difference of opinion as to what constitutes a remarkable power of smell, he sets asid^ as utterly worthless the experiments of Audubon, Bachman, and Darwin, and offers h.s own chance observations as proof that these able and careful observers weie entiiely wrong as regards both their methods and conclusions It seems almost superfluous to say that our critic can scarcely have read the original accounts of the experiments he condemns, or he would neither accuse so thoughtlessly nor explain so easily. As to the anatomical evidence introduced, it may be remarked that such an argument rom structure to function is often extremely unsafe eveli o. the accomplished anatomist, and the danger is greatest where the ex- 1 eiience ,s least. True, Owen has shown that the Turkey Buzzard has well-developed olfactory nerves; but in the same paper (P. Z S V 1817 to be fl the same nerves wFre ’found fully as well developed in the Goose, while even in the Turkey they were fairly developed, although only about one sixth as large. Further^ moie, this distinguished anatomist, a part of whose testimony Mr. Sayles finds so “entirely satisfectory.” closes his paper with the remark, that “The above notes show that the Vulture has a well-developed organ of smell bu whether he finds his prey by that sense alone, or in what decree "1": sists, anatomy IS not so well calculated to explain as experiment.” Again accoiding to Owen (Comp. Anat. and Phys. Vert., II, 132), the olfactory neives are relatively largest, among birds, in the Apteryx ; yet this bird .ppeais to use its power of smell mainly for the detection of the worms which fo.m Its daily food, and for which it probes in the ground, thus appaiently using its keen scent only at very short distances,- hardly moie indeed than the length of its own bill. ^ Turning now to the personal observations of Mr. Sayles, let us consider le eyidence which he calls “positive,” yet which I regard as entirely in- conclusive. In the first place, the data given us are very incomplete, and several of the most important points recorded were observed merely by ciance, and before any significance was attached to them; and one can scarcely help questioning the accuracy of many of the details of such ob- servations, especially when it is remembered that the occurrences narrated took place more than a dozen years ago, and we are not informed whether the narrator writes from memory or from notes taken at the time It is doubtful whether, under the most favorable circumstances, the movements of Buzzards could be fairly watched at a distance of “more than two miles ” and we are not even told how this distance was determined. Again, as the observations were simply accidental, it is more than possible that’ single Buzzards had already reached the place unobserved by our critic, but not without attracting the attention of the distant flock, which responded in the usual manner. In order to account for the coming of these first few individuals we have only to assume that the dogs had carried out and left exposed a few fragments of offal, which would readily be detected by any sharp-sighted Buzzard which chanced to be passing, or which may have been in the habit of visiting the plantation every morning. * Finally, the fact that the birds failed to find the source of the stench and Auk " I be glad, in a future number of ‘The Auk, to discuss this subiect further nr.,1 • , • r evidence on both sides of the question.’ ‘ Washmg-ton, D. C. , March 4, 1887. Auk, 4, April Respectfully, Walter B. Barrows. 1887, p. *In March, 1886, the writer received from S E Cassino/tr i ^ ■Standard Natural History.' a lengthy criticism of his statement^abouuf^ scent in Vultures as nnMicKo.i • -vr i about the power of by Mr. Sayles, embodied all thrfac°^sTn!:eL°bl-THT‘'t* which was additional m at’ter on various 305100^ In" above, it was there distinctly stated tlmt a flock orR o P'^rticnlar instance cited plantation, and that nothing was thought of it in mg about the waod-sAed fthe italics • i wheel- offal had been upset by the dogs. P°‘ of THE SENSES OF SIGHT AND SMELL. ArK.3tUiL.?()(VI\l.,^O.IO. S^-3,1%%’1. p.7-2-3. Poet ^oyai^, Tenn. Editor American Field When I wrote you recently combatting the theory that buzzards find their food by sight, not smeli, I determined to experiment and test the matter in the most thorough and impartial manner. I used the body of a dead dog, which had been shot and lying undisturbed for two days; it showed signs of de- composition, and maggots were attacking its body where the shot holes were. I took it up and concealed it in a fence corner, under a dense growth of bushes, the leaves covering it compieteiy, and ieft it there. About eight o’ciock the following morning two buzzards ^ appeared and flew in a circle over the carcass and then dis- i appeared. In an hour or two three buzzards appeared and alighted near the dead dog, and shortly after several more made their appearance and perched on the fence near the carcass ; three carrion crows also appeared, but they circled high and did not alight. The wind was blowing from the southwest and I observed the buzzards searched the air persistentiy about forty yards from the dog on the northwest side. It was plainly to be seen that they were guided by scent. The same wind had wafted the odor to their nesting piace on the blufl, nearly a mile away. At length they gave up the search and disap- peared. About the same time of day on the morning foilowing the above events, three buzzards appeared and tried it again, this time searching the air in all directions, flnaiiy alighting near the dog, but faiied to find it and flew away. I expect they wiil keep coming if they are not disgusted and dis- couraged. This setties the question, in my mind, as to how carrion I birds find their food. I knew, before making this test, that ' it was ail nonsense about buzzards finding their food by sight. If such was the case they wouid appear as soon as the animals they feed on die, whereas they rarely ever ap- pear before the second or third day, and it requires hot weather, which hastens decomposition, to bring them in- side of a week or ten days. Both Comstock and Audubon assert that carrion birds find their food by sight, but in this they are wrong. Any imaz ard,.sj[ttina.on its roost, can- not See a dead dog thfee’miies away;' but as soon as decom- position sets in he will snifl: it from afar and fly to it. He is guided aione by scent; which is very powerfui and acute. The scientific gentlemen are “oS ” on this question, as well as many others. They tell us the snake does not swallow its young, while every old hunter knows that all viviparous snakes carry their young in their bellies until they are large enough to thke care of themselves. Scientists tell us, also, that rabdomanoy, or the use of the divining rod, is a humbug and a delusion, and only prac- ticed and believed in by the ignorant and superstitious- But the divining rod is no more of a humbug than the mariner’s compass, which I can demonstrate as clearly and conclusively as the simplest problem in mathematics. With ' the divining rod I can find and locate underground streams , with as much certainty and accuracy as surface streams by sight. But it is a force that is not recognized by scientific men ; it exists, however, and is as positive as gravitation. Birdo. U-JyCcl / / rods, G silk lines and No. 7 Skinner spoons. These fish were all taken in Lost Lake, one and one-half miles northeast of Lake St. Germain and about twelve miles west of Eagle River. We also took a large number of black bass, two of which weighed a trifle less than six pounds each.” C. L. B. Monticbllo, Minn., September 8. — ^The latest news in fishing is of a gent who was fishing for minnows with a min- now hook. A twenty-pound pickerel struck it and he played it until it was weary. He could not pull it up onto the bridge from which he was fishing, so pulled it up a forty-foot bank, through stumps, logs, etc., and reduced itto possession. W. T Columbia, Conn.— Wm. Foote of this place recently ^ caught from the Columbia reservoir a black bass that was the n admiration of every one fortunate enough to feast the vision ” upon it. -It weighed, one hour after being taken out of the 1 water, four pounds and seven ounces. W. H. T. 3 THE SENSES OF SIGHT AND SMELL. P.X3-3. ’ Pout /Royal, Tenn. Editor American Field When I wrote you recently combatting the theory that buzzards find their food by sight, not smell, I determined to experiment and test the matter in the most thorough and Impartial manner. I used the body of a dead dog, which had been shot and lying undisturbed for two days; it showed signs of de- composition, and maggots were attacking its body where the shot holes were. I took it up and concealed it in a fence corner, under a dense growth of bushes, the leaves covering it completely, and left it there. About eight o’clock the following morning two buzzards appeared and flew in a circle over the carcass and then dis- appeared. In an hour or two three buzzards appeared and alighted near the dead dog, and shortly after several more made their appearance and perched on the fence near the carcass ; three carrion crows also appeared, but they circled high and did not alight. The wind was blowing from the southwest and I observed the buzzards searched the air persistently about forty yards from the dog on the northwest side. It was plainly to be seen that they were guided by scent. The same wind had wafted the odor to their nesting place on the bluff, nearly a mile away. At length they gave up the search and disap- peared. About the same time of day on the morning following the above events, three buzzards appeared and tried it again, this time searching the air in all directions, finally alighting near the dog, but failed to find it and flew away. I expect they will keep coming if they are not disgusted and dis- couraged. This settles the question, in my mind, as to how carrion I birds find their food. I knew, before making this test, that ' it was all nonsense about buzzards finding their food by sight. If such was the case they would appear as soon as the animals they feed on die, whereas they rarely ever ap- pear before the second or third day, and it requires hot weather, which hastens decomposition, to bring them in- side of a week or ten days. Both Comstock and Audubon assert that carrion birds find their food by sight, but in this they are wrong. Any know ..a bii zzard, sitting on its roost, can- not See a dead dogthre^miles away; but as soon as decom- position sets in he will sniff it from afar and fly to it. He is guided alone by scent, which is very powerful and acute. The scientific gentlemen are “off ” on this question, as well as many others. They tell us the snake does not swallow its young, while every old hunter knows that all viviparous snakes carry their young in their bellies until they are large enough to take care of themselves. Scientists tell us, also, that rabdomancy, or the use of the divining rod, is a humbug and a delusion, and only prac- ticed and believed in by the ignorant and superstitious- But the divining rod is no more of a humbug than the mariner’s compass, which I can demonstrate as clearly and conclusively as the simplest problem in mathematics. With ■ the divining rod I can find and locate underground streams with as much certainty and accuracy as surface streams by sight. But it is a force that is not recognized by scientific men; it exists, however, and is as positive as gravitation. Birdo. ’ ' Mural t , VULTURES DISCOVER CARRION BY THE SENSE ; OF SMELL, / BY W. C. A. 3 For many years it was my belief that Cathartes aura, the 3 turkey vulture, and OatTiarista atrata, the black vulture, or - carrion crow as it is commonly called here, prey by sight 3 alone. Audubon’s experiments had strengthened that be- 1 lief ; and the notion generally prevalent that these vultures ; can smell their prey, and thus discover it, appeared to me T without foundation in fact. t Observations, however, made during the last three or . four years, have induced the belief that these birds scent t and trace, through the air, the direction of putrid flesh, as a - dog winds his quarry on the ground. The facts which have modified the writer’s views on this I subject, are given below; they are related just as they oc- l curved ; and it is left to the reader to decide whether my ) proposition: “Our vultures discover carrion by the sense t of smell,” is sustained by these observations. 1 Before giving the particular instances referred to, some - general remarks will perhaps not be inappropriate. 1 No offensive decomposing animal matter, however small, - escapes the acute senses of these strange birds— strange be- i cause they are ever absent until attracted by their prey. > You may scan the horizon far and near, and not a vulture , will be seen for weeks or months. But lo ! some animal ! dies, and the clang of the black vulture’s pinions may be 1 heard morning and evening as he passes to and from the I banquet of death, or the turkey vulture may be seen gliding I noiselessly by in the company of his fellow scavengers. I The sense of sight may reveal to these birds any large dead I animal ; but how are we to explain, by this sense, the omni- presence of the vulture, when an animal not larger than a ' little chicken, or a small snake, is undergoing putrefaction ? He detects carrion in the densest f orests, and in the rankest . and most luxuriant undergrowth, impenetrable to any eye. ' It has been told the writer, that, in the overflows of the Mississippi River, when drowned cattle have been stranded and covered almost completely with sand and mud, vultures have been known to congregate over the spot beneath which i some dead animal lay, and which it appeared to the ob- server that the sense of smell alone could have revealed to them. I Is it probable that the olfactories, also, of these birds I would be as highly developed, as anatomists represent them I to be, if olfaction were not acute ? UU irritatio ibi affluxus: , there is no exception to this physiological truth. This irri- tation, in other words this constant use of the olfactories, ! has caused the afflux of blood to them, and their ex- 3 traordinary development in these vultures. Every muscle ; and nerve of any animal organism are stimulated to growth > by exercise ; and, in this instance, it is not reasonable to , suppose, that nature would bestow a highly developed I apparatus for smelling, if no use were to be made of it. [ Thus, a priori, it seems to be proved that vultures dis- cover carrion by the sense of smell ; but we are not left to I theory alone to confirm this proposition. Following are 3 some observations, which appear to me to point to olfaction as the sense by which our vultures discover their prey. About four years ago my attention was attracted by a turkey vulture, sitting on a fence, near a thicket where a dead chicken had been thrown. During the past Spring, while an odor of putrefaction \ emanating from some small dead animal was pervading the atmosphere of my yard, a turkey vulture pitched upon the yard gate near the tainted locality. In July last, a large copper-belly snake was killed in the yard, and thrown just outside of the inclosure, in a thicket. The air for some distance around the spot was filled with the stench ; and a turkey vulture, apparently in search of the source of this exhalation, lighted on the shed which covers the well, and shortly afterward pitched on the ground where the dead snake lay. One day, during the same month, my attention was at THE SENSES OF SIGHT AND SMELL. An<-.3^^J Cat^jes aura Turkey Buzzard. ‘Crow.’— V ery c 1 Andros, but more were seen on New Providence. ^ 30 A Few Facts about the Turkey Buzzard. During the last 'two months I have been travelling through the Southern Atlantic States'; and being fortunate in having my own private car, I was better able to learn , the following facts about the Turkey Buzzard. For fear some may think me negligent in not giving the Latin name of this bird, I will freely confess that my knowledge of Ceesar’s langua;^ is confined to that gentleman’s first three books, and I do not think that the Turkey Buzzard is mentioned therein. The Buzzard is justly named the scaven- ger. and it.was ,onlv a few years ago these , ^ > -ads aqp •>[0i3iq jal Xpuau Suiaq aiunpl aqi bajqSq SI pjiq aq) jo auoj apqM aqj, -sapads XaiiUA oqi }o tsuaiq papiora Xqnjpnaaq aq; }o oujd aq} gaqu} qotqAi qDjud Xqouis XAnaq n si is\ajq aq; uq uauni aqi jo AviS uaqsu aqi JO TOqJSUI UAVOID UMOiq B qjlAV voiu^^qfi [VO vjiJ.g(J.722vo') jrenj^ XaqBA aqj UByjj JOTBras XpqSqs si JiBnj^ sjaquiBp) •diJj 'aqj JO jjnssu aqj sSSa jo jas ajajdmooui auo piiB ‘suiqs a\itu jo jbjoj b apBiu ‘dirj auioq aqj uo uaqBj\aiuos qjiAi 'qotqAV ‘suaunaads ajoui inoj SuiqA ui papaaoans puB jnjijuajd ajiiib jiBnj^ sjaqmBp punoj j ‘pipi oijia Bj maqjnog aqj qp ‘uoijbjs spajjB^w jy saiaads siqj jo sSSa joj qooj oj ajBp ladoiS. aqj jnoqB si qutqj j qaiqM ‘S padv no SBAi si^, ’jas ajajduiooui d d 0) OD t/) w o O cs ” (U . Dh CL,rH «5 rH t/2 p> H 1^’ J, Q " • K •S OQ N g N ” ^ s 2 cq o o c M o . « g <8 o o ^ cS g.ql ^ 5 S 3 4- 8 ^ S ° W) .5 so t 5 fvi ^ O u g S u ^ ^ ^ O m ^ 'oO I a cS . O (L> • w rt g ^ .S § _d_. <3^ -J > ^ Jh ^50 {y •< a g .s ^ ^ “ T3 "T: '-T ■° a CO T3 08 "I 'u ^ S 3 ^ o ^ O ^ u V . C !c o 3h S \0 ^ H# r- ►-« 'S. ■" i 2 ^ gq p . 5'^ o q a > H — *1 -S -> 8 a"® o I m c ^-1 %'ti ■S ® « f. § o ^ CO '5^3 C/) CD tu ^ U ^ b/} 5 c bX) CO ci Q .2 {lL CO H fe S) “ 8 i — h S 'ttzur 6y Q- d OJ § ^ C o Ci . c O ^ ^ “ o .. K?: I S U. • O "3 X) C « Is •o Q g 'CO oK (J^ (?g . . oS « ^ 2* I « I <1 A O^- • — Ns, 5 j O '5 ” Q '''^' !§ < 2 oi I o . «s^,r . o I PO Ei J 556. T'/ze Aev.se of Smell in Birds. By S. M. Harper. Ibid., XIX, No. 10, p. 174, March 10, 1883. — Relates mainly to the Turkey Buzzard. American Fielii, ^ CO k ^ 'S C § ^ Cq c ^ CO - \ O ^ s C 4d tB 3 9 ^ hi ? . < :3 o' oi c ^ 1 g bjD S OJ p 6 51 ’^Si «g 'sWi ! R ca ; 1 ^ taj N O ^ ajhs'-^ •”23 : > eS . "V Q 8.0 Ti •SO: : Co C/J j? iL,| .a SF^ R c i -o. i^. Lti |P5 If ■s; X SLn&roB Island, Bahamas John I.JSorthxop .;,rf),;e" crrTT t ^UKiVm,Jan, 46. 1891, p. Cath^tes aura {Linn.). — Turkey Buzzard. ‘Crow.’- mon on Andros, but more were seen on New Providence. 7G -Very com- h« O "o O ® fi B « ' ^ Ed I cq 3 ^ u t 23 CD N G O ri rj 5 ."s k iW kO 3^ VO ^ NO O o bo a p o Jo 0 ) 1S87.] Cox on Rare Ne-w Briinsivick Birds. 205 the foothills of the Catalinas. I have obsei'ved it here on only two occiw Rather common, especially in early spring, about Tlicson. Mr. BrowA found it commonly in the Qyiijitoa country in the winter of /0S4 and 18^. I did not observe it at either Florence or at Riverside. 173. melanocephala. Black-headed Grosiseak. — At^ineral Creek, altituaje 5000 feet, this species was breeding in smal^numbers during the sun^ner of 1882. The only other point where I h^e met with it is in the CabiVna Mountains, where it undoubtedly bree^at the high- est altitudes, and wl^re after the first of July it rapidly b^omes abundant as low down as 3500 f«et. Here I found it in large scatW'ed flocks, during July, August, and September, 1884, feeding on all t^ small wild fruits and seeds that are abund^t at this time of year. It/ arrival at this same locality was first noted May i, and it remains till ^out the first week in October. I took a remarkably fine alfeino of this spe/es on August 15, 1S84, in Pepper Sauce Canon, Catalina IV^untains. 174. Guiraca caerulea. Blue Qrosbeai/ — The only records I have of this species are kindly furnished \je by/Mr. Brown, who finds it rather rare about Tucson late in May and eat^^in June, 175. Passerina amoena. Lazuli/B^’ting. — Observed at Mineral Creek in August, 1882. Took a yyung imie (No. 624) in Pepper Sauce Canon (4500 feet), July 27, 1884/ These ai\ the only records I have made of the species. Mr. Brown ha^found it breeding, but not common, about Tucson, where it is most frecment during the spring migration. 176. Spiza americana. /Dickcissel. — The ^ly record of this species is furniblied by Mr. Hemert Brown, who tookaifemale near Tucson on September n, 1884, an^ater kindly showed me Ih^^rd in his collection. 177. Calamospizaymelanocorys. Lark Bunting. Vriiis species, if it does not breed within the area under consideration, is j^sent almost the entire year and .^metimes is to be met with in enormoiiV^cks. I find in my notes lar^e flocks noted near Florence, Dec. 10-20, iS^. On the mesa, above >/epper Sauce Canon, Catalinas (altitude 4000 fe\t), I saw Aug. 17, i 3 ^, two large flocks, composed of adult and young Wa about equal ni^bers, the adult males still in full plumage. A small flo^ was seen u/Old Hat Canon, Catalinas (4000 feet), on March 10, 1885— Nu'st o( jXe spring migration. A number of large flocks were noted on tub pMins about Tucson, Feb. 19, 1S86. ( To be coHtluuedi) 1 RARE BIRDS OF NORTHEASTERN NEW BRUNS- WICK. BY PiriLIP cox, Jit. Before entering upon the subject of this paper, it is well to say something concerning the character and climate of this cor- 3 / Catharlsta atrata Charleston 1839. Jan. 25. , South Carolina. Counted 33 about the market this forenoon, about half in the street, the others sitting on the edges of the flat roofed buildings bordering it. The former Tsrere colleoted about the meat stalls watching for stray scraps and offal every now acid then thrown out by the stall tenders. A few small curs were with the "Buzzards" axid bullied then freely alv/ays getting the meat when the birds v/ere not too civxick for them. The Buzzards were fully as taiae as street pigeons dodging the horses and foot passengers in the same adroit way. They often rose and fle’w some distance, however, when a dog dashed in aiaong them. Position when still usually rather crouching the the wings loosely folded. Gait a slinl'.ing walk, .ii-^ck drawn tiio steps in long, the fore part of the body lowered, the hind ^art raised at each step. When in a hurry they took long jimips flapping their wings to assist their progress. On the roofs many sat with wings opened to fullest extent facing the breeze. Some sat oh the tops of the chiraneys. Catharista atrata Charleston 1889. Jan . 28 . South Carolina. Ten about the luarket, raost of them perched on eaves of roofs, a few in street. When a scrap of meat was thrown out there was a general rush for it. Often a bird on some distant roof shooting dovm on set wings got to the spot and siezed the morsel before another onlv a few yards away in the street could hop to it. Frequently it was tahen and retaken and passed about araong several birds. A feint of a peolc or even a sudden plunge of one bird to’wards anofnei” v/as of tori enough to cause the threatened bird to drop Its prize and hop or fly avjay. Arrant cowards, eveidently, t'nese Vultures 1 When a cur rushed in among them they, would all fl;j- in terror. The curs got most of the larger pieces in the end. Two Vultures had a protraot(?d fight.. One took a piece df meat av/ay from the other vrherj it was at once siezed cind gobbled by a third. The first two evidently lost their usually placid tempers at this. Sidling up to one another until their wings ( folded ) touched they pressed or crowded hard against one an- other at intervals pecking rather timidly at each other's heads. Their efforts were chiefly confined to pushing, how- ever. Neither got much advantage. The fight lasted about five minutes and collected an interested ring of small boys - black gamins of the streets- just as a dog fight is s\ire to do Catharista atrata Charleston, South Carolina. 1889. None of the Vultures about the raarhet made any noise. Jan. 28, Most of them had their plumage more or less dappled with (No.2). ohallcy odure probably received when roosting. .Their heads and feet were also muddy and foul. Their p Image in the main, however, v/as glossy and neat looking. The wings are loosely folded and hang low on the sides looking as if wired on im- % perfectly by a bad taxidermist. The scapulars do not lie dovra on the wings but are raised along their edges in a stiff ridge. The attitudes of the bird are loose, easy and often not ungraceful. In flight the heck is dra’wn in, the head and bill point downward not unlike a Heron's. The usual gait is a slow v/alk very like a Crow's, the whole body tilting up and dovm at each step. ViThen in haste the bird takes long bound- ing leaps using the wings to accelerate its siieed and often jiiraping two feet high or eight feet horisontally. The flight is T>er formed by five or six quick flaps succeeded by an inter- val of sailing. They sail less in circles than Cathartes . and the flight is much less easy and graceful. The? tail looks as if chopped off short. Catharista atrata. Charleston 1889. Jan . 29 . , South Carolina. Counted 25 Vultures at the marhet this morning. One, a young oird doubtless, had the entire head feathered excerit for a narrov/ space across the forehead and around a.id in front of the eyes. There v;as LUicbj. apparent variation in the extent of feathering on the others due partly to age out not a little to the way the bird felt at the t irae . Thus a bird inaotivo and chilly ruffled the feathers and rolled the shin of the head forward until most of t}ie crown and cheehs were covered by the feathered shin of the nech. The moment its attention was absorbed in a rush for food bach went this feathered por- tion until the whole head to the occiput was bare. In alight- ing each bird tooh two or three long springy leaps along the street after closing its wings. A group of a dozen all had hold of a large piece of liver at once, all pulling different ways. Saw one flop up on the shelf of a stall and pech at a large piece of meat lantil driven off by the stall heeper. 31 . f. c. j/ ^ cLt~^A^ c^ '4C<><--<.-^-'*«-*-«»-^^ . ^<~t^ ^^.^ZZiZZZi^ A-^^oC Ca^^^ca^CaA. Atr JLt/^A<4. ^ ^ c,Ayv>(_^ ^^p'A->C"'v_-c^^^ c^ I ^^i-<-A_--«_ laaa.aa. s<. ^^^.^ZZZ^^ZZZ-Y ^ '*-'«— 17 Ij ('vxA-Z^Z ^ ^ < ^ jj ^ c ^ c^ , yZft.AAj a-^ \J «^^^tl.v.*_-«^e^^-»— , %-<^yf a^SZ^Aj^c- ' ^ Ot' ^ZZt€L ^^i-<9''«^^ /ny ^jCtr^ /Ztzz<5 <-jto.fl^ '£^<>'-'«— c«- ^^ZZX o^ '^.-- According to authority older than you or 1 ' ourselves, we must pass on every eagle not ^ a Golden, that inhabits this section of the ^ country, the name of Bald. — Ed. i I I i VoSZ^ , hrcl '^1^1 f. fcox^i (jLu^ I'yu^ •M'/»7 (iXtAJJti^ Ihu ^ y !5. Jaly.1890. p. JQ2. Black Vulture at Taunton, Mass. — I take pleasure in recording the capture of an adult female Black Vulture (Catharista urubu) at Taunton, Mass., on Oct. 5, 1902. This is the first record for the specie^ in Bristol County, and there are but very few records for the State. The bird was discovered sitting on the roof of a barn, where it remained while its captor went to the house for his gun. — A. C. Bent, Taunton, XX, Jan., 1903, The Black Vulture again in Eastern Massachusetts.— On the 15th of last September, 1905, I shot a Black Vulture (Catharista atrata) at Waltham, Mass. This is, I believe, the fifth specimen on record in Massa- chusetts. When first seen, at dusk, the vulture was sitting on the top of a tall dead pine tree, on the edge of some woods, about two miles north of the town. At a distance it looked somewhat like a large crow, but much more awkward; its neck seemed to be sunk forward till it stretched out between the wings. I started toward the vulture, keeping as much out of sight as possible, but it must have seen me, for it raised its head, and then flew in my direction, with long, steady flaps of its wings, and evidently more curious than frightened, for it flew close to the tree tops, and directly over my head. When the shot struck the bird, it fell heavily to the ground, but immediately spreading both wings, as if to balance itself, it ran awkwardly off through the bushes, until shot again. Al- though hjll grown, it was evidently not an old bird; the plumage was in fine condition, but had a . very disagreeable odor. The outstretched wings measured fifty-eight inches from tip to tip. The specimen, mounted, is now in my -lle^tiog,.-^,H^5TopR,_ , Black Vulture in Massachusetts. — A female Black Vulture {Calha- rista urubu) was shot by Archer L. Pierce, Aug. 20, 1917, on the Burnham estate at the west end of Wenham, Mass. The bird was eating from a garbage pail at the time. The specimen has been sent to the Boston Society of Natural History.— John C. Phillips, Wenham, Mass. XXX W. /9J7./0. 7 9 94 pAuk Ljan. , General Notes^i-\ / Qarn/nee- tceczt' ' /C^G-t .’ /^ • Xlci^^t'i^e.l , 3. Cathartes atratus, Less. Black Vulture. — A specimen of this Southern species was shot at Sandy Hook during the spring of 1877. It was feeding upon the carcass of a pig, and was easily approached. It is now in my collection. Bua N.O.O. 6, April. 1880, p. ft ^ g Cathartes atratus. Black Vulture.— An individual of this spe- cies was found dead on Coney Island Beach a few years ago. I have not the exact date, but Mr. Akhurst is iny authority- ^ ^ Bull, N.O O. 0. Aarii- IriSl, p. (/? € ec^ 'l/L£ Catharistes urubu. Black Vulture. — An individual of this species was caught in a trap by a farmer residing near Shelby Center, on the 28th of May, 1892, and came under my observation rvhile yet alive. Jion<^H-s^Cii7c/j /7go«^/ Catharista urubu. Black Vulture. — I am indebted to Mr. C. W. Crandall of Woodside for the report of the capture of a specimen of this bird which so rarely reaches us from more southern regions that this may perhaps be regarded as the first specimen authenticated beyond a doubt, or, at least, backed by an authenticated skin, taken within the actual geo- graphical limits of Long Island. As stated in ‘A List of the Birds of Long Island,’ p. 67, the evidence entitling it to a place in the avifauna of Long Island rests on the authority of Mr. Robert Lawrence who observed it on the adjacent shore of Sandy Hook, and of Mr. deL. Berier, who reported one found dead at Coney Island beach, by Mr. Akhurst. As no authenti- cated skin of this specimen is extant, that of Mr. Crandall’s is all the more valuable. Mr. Crandall was at Plum Island, L. I., on May 19 and 20, 1895, and on exactly or nearly the same dates on the three subsequent years, in the interests of ornithological investigation. It was on the second trip, namely, 1896, on the 19th or 20th of May, or within a day or two of these dates, that the bird was shot. He was in the field, bird-nesting, when, hearing a distant gun-shot he was attracted to investigate the cause. He found that the shot had been fired by a farmer, at a large bird which had been feeding on a dead sheep. The farmer — a Mr. Clark — finding that there clung to the bird an odor not incompatible with its feeding habits, had consigned his prize to the furrow where the plowshare would shortly have buried it. From this position Mr. Crandall, with prompt and com- mendable collecting zeal, rescued the specimen and sent it to a New York taxidermist (Murgatroyd) for mounting. Mr. Crandall still has the mounted skin in his possession, and, at his home, the writer recently had the pleasure of examining it. Ank 26, Jaly-1##*,*, V5 ^ /S. t-^C^ 0 Catharista atrata. Black Vulture. Do-wny Stage ■.—^nWxfthoAj densely covered with long silky down of uniform light fulvous color. Throat and lores bare. The whole top of the head is covered with a thick down of two distinct lengths, the longer of which IS much shorter than the body down; looking at the head from above, this longer down is seen to grow in such shape as to torm a patch having the outlines of a perfect spear-head ; the spear-ooint stands toward the bird’s bill, while the barbs extend backward over each eye, with the mad d form is made distinct not only because the down forming the spear-head is twice as long as the rest of the head-growth, but while the short down of the head IS of a dark grayish color, the long down of the spear-head has its edges sharpiy defined in black shading to a fulvous toward the centre. Biii dark horn color. When the bird is half grown and the quills are just appearing, the down on the head has about disappeared leaving the whole head black and nearly bare, the very minute and scattered growth of feathers being scarcely noticeable. The down on the body is still as dense as ever and very long. The color of the whole anterior Llf of the dller" iieT ^as become darker. The bill is black throughout. The down is now more than an as tV presents a grotesque appearance, very much as If It had covered its nakedness with a miniature faded buffalo skfn over Auk. 4. Jan.. 1887. p. i Sp. Char. Male: — Above grayish-ash, darkest on the head; a dull black \ patch behind the eye; underparts -whitish, ashy on the sides of the breast; wings brown, secondaries and coverts edged with dull ^hite; under wing-coverts pale yellow; tail brown, feathers faintly tipped and edged with dull white; upper tail-coverts edged with pale^ilfous. The sfexes are similar. Length, S.50; wing, 4.40; tail, 4.10; tarsus, .75; bill, .90. Habitat. Bahamas, Cuba, Haiti, San Domingo, Jamaica, Porto Rico, St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. Bartholomew, and Sombrero. Tyrannu^ tyrannus (Linn.). Lanins tyrannus Linn. Syst. Nat^ p. 94 (175S). Lanitis tyrannus var. carolinensis ludovicianus Gmel. Syst. Nat. I, p. 302 (1788). Tyrannus intrefidus? Salle, P. Z. ^ 1857, p. 232 (San Domingo).— Brewer, Pr. Bost. Soc. Nat. HistNviI, p. 307 (i860) (Cuba) ; tb. Bryant, XI, p. 90 (1867) (San Domingo). Tyrannus ^ipiri Gundl. J. f.'O. 1872, p. 423'(Cuba).^ Tyrannus carolinensis CorV, List Bds. W. I. p.'i^ (1855). Accidental in Cuba. Porto Rico.? San Donjingo .? Tyrannus salphurascens Herz. P. V. Wiirttemberg is an un- determined species mentioned by Cabanis (J. f. ^ 1857, p. 241). ItAvas originally described as occurring in Cuba aud Haiti. Gun^ach, in writing of this species (J. f. O. 1871, X 268), tbibks there has been a mistake in the locality. ( To be continued^ BREEDING HABITS OF THE BLACK VULTURE. BY WALTER HOXIE. Buzzard Island lies in a bend between Ladies’ Island and Wassa Island, and is about three miles in a direct line from Beau- fort, South Carolina. It is about an acre and a half in extent and surrounded by boggy marsh, beyond which, at low tide, stretch OoUeoiioa of Raptoree Eggs. J.P.it* Black Vulture. 14 -2. 14 28 O.&O. XV. Apr. 1890. p. 50 I A Philadelphia Collection of Eggsof the Baptores. CatharietM atrata. Black Vulture. Fourteen sets of two. Total : fourteen sets, twenty-eight eggs. O.&O, XIV, Mar. 1889 p.40 1 f i*^ ^y C J Do BiKDS Ever “Play Possum”? Mr. Walter iaox.o writesus: “In reply to a correspondent’s query m the January ‘O. and O.’ I will say that the BJack when wounded will ‘play possum.’ I hung one up by the legs the other day thinking him dead, but after some hours found him to be perfectly hearty barring a broken leg and winir. Some W'oodpeckers when sitting will close their eyes”' and suffer themselves to be handled. The simulation of lameness of many birds in presence of an intruder too near the nest or eggs might be considered an active phase of the same phenomenon. They certainly pretend to be ‘partly’ dead.” On page 41 will be fomid ^ii^ retae^e^y Mr. Ilasbrouck on the same siibject.Q.&O. 7 O-'C-xA^ gy ^ The Sense of Smell in the American Vultures. BY WALTER HOXIE. In a recent article in The Auk, the writer argues that our Vultures possess a highl}' de- veloped sense of smell. My own observations point to a contrary conclusion and will quote one or two observations. Last summer an ox died on the road and was hauled into some thick bushes. The cart to which he was attached, was backed in after him and for several days the carcass was thus screened from view, but was fearfully apparent to the dullest nose. Numerous dogs feasted on it, but no vultures came until the cart was removed, when being in plain view through the numerous openings into which it had been dragged, they came in myriads and in a short time nothing was to be seen but the bones. Had the Vultures possessed even a dull sense of smell and known how to use it as a guide to their repast, they would, in my opinion, have discovered their prey three days sooner than they did. 1 once raised a pair of young Turkey Vul- tures. When oflered food they manifested great excitement and would tumble awkwardly into the pan in which it was placed. But when the pan was covered up, though full of tempting and odoriferous offal, they maintained their usual dull and sleepy demeanor. I have even placed them upon a newspairer which imvered the entrails of a duck without their manifesting the faintest sign of a knowledge of the presence of food in the vicinity. Now as to their keenness of sight and prompt- ness in discovering their prey by that means. Last May, I sat in a tent skinning a Black Vulture. In plain view and distant somewhat over half a mile was Buzzard Island, with some forty or fifty of the birds perched upon the tree- tops. As I removed the body and cast it through the entrance of the tent, eveiy broad wing was expanded and the whole flock came hurrying towards the blood}' carcass, even be- fore it had ceased to roll along the ground. O.&p. XII. A pr. 1837 p. g»/ I have met w^ only one other Virginia Kail which was founi^ dead under the telegraph wire. Still. from t.heir dislike to take wing they are not often s^n and may be more com- mon than I am aware \if. The Sense of Smell in the Black Vulture. BY WALTER HOXIE. On the 27th of April, 1887, 1 captured a young Black Vulture which could not have been at tliat time more than two days old. When he Inid attained the age of three weeks I sub- mitted liim to a course of experiments in order to ascertain whether or no he possessed the sense of smell. The results up to the present time. May 29th, 1887, are all on the negative side of the question. On May 20th he had been purposely kept two days without food but was liberally sup- idied with water. lie was confined in a box with a slatted top one foot square and two feet five inches long. Upon showing myself near the box he displayed great excitement and eagerness, pushing his head between the slats and grasping every object placed within his i-each with hungry eagerness. After being duped several times with chips, oyster shells and bits of stick he became sulky at so many disappointments and refused to grasp anything offered to him. While in this state of mind a putrid crab w'as slowly brought by an assis- tant from a distance of seventy-one yards to windward of his box and placed on the lee side at first. The same system of teasing was still carried on and the crab passed round to wind- ward. Still he showed no sign that he was aware of any food being at hand. Then I cautiously raised both hands above the edge of the box, the one holding an oyster shell and the other the crab. Before I could drop the iatter he snatched it from my grasp and pro- ceeded to regale himself witli every sign of extreme satisfaction. After disposing of this tidbit he was heartily fed. No more was given him till the 23d. On tiie morning of that day tiie skinned and partially disembowelled bodies of three small herons were laid on a work bench one foot and ten inches above the top of his box. These bodies were not very odorifer- ous at this time, but in a few hours they be- came extremely so. I did not approach the box or tease him on this occasion, but listened from the room where I was at work for any 609. The Carrion Crow. {Cathartes atratus.) By Byrne. Forest > and Stream, XX, No. 3. p. 45.— Account of its habits as observed at *> Crockett’s Bluff, Ark. 1018. [A Black Vulture iu Vermont.^ By [C. W.] Graham. Ibicl.^ p. 4. — Record of a specimen shot at Woodbury, Vt., about July lo, 1884. ; Sandt Notes Uat. HiSt \ <'Uo. 9- leSo. Vultures Discover Carrion by the Sense of Smell. By \V. C. A. [=W. C. Avery]. Ibid., No. 12, Sept. 17, p. 269. (See also No. 14, Oct. I, p. 31S.) Aroerioan Field,. XXVIII 612. Black Vulture in Northern Dakota. By George A. Boardman. Ibid., No. 6, p. 106. 'Foic, Stream. Yoi.XX sounds of excitement. Late in the afternoon his unmistakable voice was heard, and he was found reaching upward with eagerness and plainly indicating that he was aware that there was food upon the bench. Almost at the same instant a drop of blood fell upon his box. He scraped eagerly at it with his bill and then looked upward again for more. I now moved the bodies a few inches to one side and wiped up the blood which had tiickled down through a crack. As long as I was iu sight he kept up his noise and antics, but when I went away he was still again. In about an hour’s time I fed him, and he has been bountifully supplied ever since. This afternoon a dish containing the still warm entrails of two fowls was covered and placed in his box. He showed no curiosity as to the contents until the cover was removed. I thought he could not be at all hungry but judging from the speed with which the viands disappeared they did not come at all amiss. My conviction is as before expressed that the Black Vulture is not capable of detecting its food by the scent. I shall not consign this lovely pet to his native wilds for some time to come and if I should detect any symptoms, as he grows older, of a development of the sense of smell, I shall not fail to make the fact known through the medium of the O. and O. O.& O. XILAug, 1S87 P. JSJI. l-.'l ' s^o I if Qaj^^'h.h rv, >(w.. /9«7./t.,g/, 22. Elanoides forficatus. Swallow-tailed jaite.— i men that is said to have been taken here many years ago- an Ontario record. ° ’ nave a speci- it is certainly 66,5. '"Sivalloiv-Tailed Kite in Maine." Editorial, No,, 24, p. ; ' 464. - Sent from the West — not killed in Maine. (See above, Noi 652.) & Streak. [VohXXl ' Occurrence OF the Swallow-tailed Kite in Mas.sachusetts. Mi. ; Rayuiond L. Newcomb informs me that he has in his possession a stuffed « specimen of Elavoides forficatas, shot near the town of West^ Newbury, h' Essex Co., Mass., on the last of September, 1882. This is believed to be t the first authentic capture of the kind on record lor New England. Elliott Coues, Washington. D. C. N»OtO« SiJan, 1833j| 6'* 1446. First Capture jof Nauclerus forficatus in Massachusetts. By Ar- thur P. Chadbourne. ^ The Quarterly yournal of the Boston Zoological Society; Voi. II, 1883, p. 16. Jour. Bas, Zool. Soo. A Swallow-tailed Kite at Saybrook Conn. Sitting at my window engaged in reading one i^leasant Sunday afternoon in June last, (the 10th), my attention was called by a member of my family to a curious Hawk that was passing over; leisurely turning my attention from my printed book to the “Book of Nature” — for the gyrations of a Hawk, Red-tailed or Cooper, were no unusual spectacle — I was startled from my serenity at beholding something new to my vision, and in an incredibly brief space of time was out gazing with wondering eyes at the graceful evolutions of a Swallow- tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus). 1 had read of this species “North to South- ern New England,” hut had viewed that ver- dict very questionable, as twenty years’ close observation had failed to confirm it, but in an instant all my doubts were swept away, for right before my eyes in plain view and near at hand was an unmistakable specimen grace- fully soaring in slowly receding circles; his long pointed, narrow wings, fully expanded tail with the outer feathers of great length, pure white under parts in contrast with the dark upper, presented distinctions so marked from all other native species that recognition was instantaneous and unmistakable. It was with covetous eyes that I stood and watched as he slowly receded from view toward the north, circling round and round with scarcely a motion of his wings, and drifting away with the gentle south wind. It sometimes takes years to form theories, but a moment suffices to sweep them away. John N. Clark. Saybrook, Conn. , O .&O. XIV. Aut^. ia89 p.123 s Nauclerus forficatus. Swai.low-t ailed Kite. - Mr. J. Akhurst th-il -ibout the year 1845. while collecting on the south shoic o tells me that about the yea 45 _ ^ r ^tao- T«lnnd he saw a bird ot tnis specie?-, x i .... , Long Island, h ^ unsuccessful. This I believe is us second Island.’ •C!,,n -NT. 0 . 0 . e.APJ-a. 1881 , P. c. The Swallow-tailed Kite in Rensselaer County, New York. In my collection is a specimen of an Blanoides forficatus, mounted by Mr. Wil- liam Gibson, of Lansingburg, N. Y., who told me that he received the dead bird July 17, 1886, from Mr. Griffin Haight, and that by dissecting the bird he found it was a male. Its plumage is that of an adult, and is in partly worn and moulting condition. Wing, 15.6 inches; tail, 11.6, with fork, 5.6. Mr. Haight lias a little house on a newly cleared acre, in the border of a large wood-lot in the eastern part of the town of Pittstown, about sixteen miles northeasterly from the city of Troy, and there breeds fancy fowls which run about freely in the clearing and ajacent woods. He informs me that Hawks trouble his fowls and carry off some chickens, and on the morning of July 16 he staid at home to clean out a few of the Hawks, and had shot three, and just fired at another, when he was surprised to' see, flying up from the woods by the clearing, a Swallow-tailed Kite, such as he had formerly seen in South Carolina. The Kite flew away and was gone about twenty minutes when it came down and lit on the dead stubby top of a tree by the clearing. After a few minutes, it flew up out of sight, but in about thirty minutes came down again and sat on the same dead tree-top for about seven minutes; it then flew up again out of sight. About fifty minutes later, t-aio Kites came down together and lit on the same dead tree stub. As he started toward them the largest Kite flew away in a flash, and as he went nearer the other Kite darted up overhead; he fired and killed it, and sent the dead bird to Mr. Gibson to be mounted. Mr. Haight informs me that he has since seen one or more of the Kites around a pond in a swamp of about four hundred acres, within two miles of his house ; once on July 29, and several times on August 9. He also saw at a distance, on dead ash trees standing in the swamp, three or four birds having the appearance and flight of Kites, and they alighted like young birds. He also observed one of the Kites about twenty rods off mg on a stub in the pond, in the latter part of August. He also about together low over a field of buckwheat, as if catching insects. One these Kites had a very long and deeply forked tail, and was larger than the other, which had its tail but little forked or nearly even at Hie end. thrsmuelircr”' From seeing the locality, and from the information received, it seems probable that a pair of Swallow-tailed Kites bred, in 1886, in Rensselaer LTabovfiiJ;’ 73 ° 33 ', and near 600 teet above tide water level.— A ustin F. Park, Troy N. T. Auk, 3, oct./iese,: p. The Swallow-tailed Kite at Piermont, New York. — I made an obser- vation this morning (August 22, 1900) that must be of interest. Just at .noon, with the sky bright and clear, I stepped out into the yard in time to see a Swallow-tailed Kite (^Rlanoldes forficatus') sailing over. The bird passed over me at a height of about one hundred feet and it is quite impossible for me to have been mistaken about the identification. I have seen a number of these birds in the South, and of course have handled the dried specimens. The sun was shining brightl.v and disclosed all the beautiful details of plumage. Piermont is on the west bank of the Hudson, and about thirty miles above New York city. — G. L. Nicuola.s, M. D., Piermont, N. Y. Auk, XVII, Oct., 1900, p. 3 5 6, Dec. 1886.] AND OOLOGIST. X/ 183 hundred miles must have been traversed while constructing the nest. The eggs, as has before been stated, were two in number, and were slighliy nest-stained. No. 1 is of a faint creamy white color, with points and small splashes of umber brown generally dis- persed over tile surface. Tliere are a number of larger spots, and a large patch of tlie same color is spread out, almost covering one side of the egg. The shape is a sliort oval. It measures 1.90x1.52 inches. No. 2 is a creamy white, with scattered specks and spots of chestnut color, these increase in size until the larger end is heavily marked with large, bold spots of rich chestnut brown. Its sliape is a perfect oval and it measures 2.00x 1.51 inches. The Number of Eggs Laid by the Swallow-tailed Kite. liY N. S. GOSS, TOPEKA, KAKSAS. In commenting favorably upon a valuable paper, “ Nesting of the Swallow-tailed Kite,” by Mr. J. A. Singley, of Giddings, Texas, Vol. 11, No. 10, p. 154, of The Oknitiiologist and O oLOGiST, the Editor of the Oblogical Department makes reference to certain statements of mine, in regard to the nesting habits of the birds, that seem to call for some explanation, which I cheer- fully give. The four nests referred to, that came under my observation, ought to bo taken as substantiating the conclusions reached by the Editor, viz : that two, or three, at most, should be entered as a full set. Major C. S. Clark, of the Ninth Kansas Volunteers, during the war, is my authority for the nest with six eggs, which, in the early settle- ment of the Stale, he collected from a nest in the branches of a tall tree on Deer Creek, in Allen county. A German from Woodson county, while looking over the birds in my collection, (then at Neosho Falls,) pointed to a Swallow-tailed Kite and said a pair of the birds built a nest in a tree on Owl Creek, and near his house ; tiiat he shot one oi the birds, but failed to get near enough to kill the other ; tlial he then climbed the tree, de- stroyed the nest, and broke the eggs, four in number, stating that he did this to save his chickens. I tried to convince him that the birds were harmless, but think I failed. Such proof, fj'om a scientific standpoint, might not be called good authority, but, coupied with the fact that Audubon and later writers assert that the birds iay from four to six eggs, I felt, from the light I had, tliat it would not be either safe or wdse to change, in catalogue, the number as given. In fact, I was governed, in my revised catalogue of the birds of Kansas, in tlie dimen- sions and color of the eggs, by the sets examined, but did not venture to change the numbers when uniformly given by other writers, fearing, from my limited observation, such changes might prove in error, or misleading. As to tlie theory, thought so “fanciful,” that tlie crows had robbed the nests, I think it best answered by copying tliat part of my article from The Auk, viz.: ‘‘On the 27th of the same month (May) I found the other pair of Mississippi Kites nesting in the forks of a medium- sized oak, about forty feet from the ground. It was an old Crow's nest, fitted up with a few extra sticks and green twigs in leaf, for lining. In the nest there was one egg. I returned on the 2d of June for the eggs, found the nest robbed, and the birds sitting in a tree, near by, but they appeared to take no notice of, or interest in, the nest, as I approached it. On July 5th, in strolling over the grounds, I noticed one of the birds on the same nest. In it there was one egg in an advanced state of incubation, but witli care I was able to save it. Color, pure white ; measurements, l.TOx 1.35. This nest and the ones examined of Elan- okles forfieahis were on tiie breeding ground of the common Crows, wiiich accounts for the robbery, and the few eggs found.” Such was my belief then, and is now. I will only add that my brother (Capt. B. F. Goss) and myself found, one season, over ten Crows’ nests in the vicinity, the farthest not over iorty rods away from the described nests of the Kites. With the well known thievish habits of the birds, I leave it to the reader as to whether the conclusion reached was a natural or “fanciful" one.” I was not attempting then, nor am I now', to prove any number the correct one. What wm want in this, and all such cases, is to get at the facts. And to this end I think all information bearing upon the nesting habits of the birds should be eagerly sought for and the results published. [It is to be feared that Major Clark did not properly identify the nest with six eggs that he found, for surely it could not have belonged to Elanoides forficatus. The same remark will also apply to the German gentleman, w'ho evi- dently desires to remain unknown to fame. Mr. Goss will have to produce better evi- dence than this to convince the world that this bird lays more than two eggs. — .1. P. N.] ♦ We enclose with tliis issue a complete index for Vol. XI, compiled by the editor of the Oological department. The Eggs of the Swallow-tailed Kite. Aubudon was the first to describe the eggs of the Swallow-tailed Kite (Eknioides forficatus) He tells us that “ the nest is usually placed on the top branches of the tallest oak or pine tree, situat- ed on the margin of a stream or pond. It resem- bles tliat of the Common Crow externally, being formed of dry sticks, intermixed with Spanish moss, and is lined witli coarse grasses and a few feathers. The eggs arc from four to six, of a greenish-white color, witli a few irregular blotches of dark brown at the larger end.” (Audubon’s Birds of America, Vol. I, p. 80, Edition of 1840). This statement has been followed by all writers down to the present day. Dr. Coues, in his Birds of the Northwest, quotes the above passage, without comment as to the strange mis-statement as to the number of eggs laid by this bird ; and repeats the assertion, in the revised edition of liis Key, that they lay from four to six. An old and experienced oologist informs us that he has never heard of more than two being laid in one nest, and an experienced collector in Texas, who has found tlie eggs repeatedly, says that their number is always two. A fine set col- lected in Lavaca County, Texas, on April 20th, 1885, and now in the cabinet of a gentleman in Pliiladelpliia, were fresh when taken. Tlio ident- ity was well proven, and the nesf was placed on the side branches of a live oak tree. Tlie eggs are two, and are smaller at one end than at the other. They are of a whitish color tinged with yel- low and are marked with large blotches of rich chestnut brown. No. 1 measures 1.80 inches in length by 1.50 in breadth. No. 2 is 1.88 long, and 1.48 broad. In No. 1 the markings are at the smaller end, wdiile in No. 2 they are cluster- ed around the larger end. Dr. Coues gives their measurements as 1.90 by 1.50 in liis Birds of the Northwest, basing them upon a single specimen then in the Smithsonian Institution collection, taken in Iowa. In his Key lie gives the same measurements, but does not say whether he had other specimens to examine. O.&O. XI. Jan. 1886. p. n. Tlie Swallow-tailed Kite, { Elanoides forficatus) . never lays more than two eggs, but their number lias been given for years as being from four to six. XI. A PhiladelphiaCollection of Eggs of the Raptores. Elanotdes forficatus. Swallow-tailed Kite. One set of two. 0,&0. XIV. Mar. 1889 Nest op the S wallow-tail Kite .— Some years since I was informed that Swallow-tailed Kites nested on Indian Creek in the lower cross-timbers, about seven miles east of Gainsville, Texas. During a recent visit (June 2d) to a friend in that locality, I was informed where I could see a nest which had been oc- cupied this season. It was in the extfeme top of a large Cottonwood tree, the stem supporting the twigs on which the nest rested being only two or three inches in diameter. The nest was quite small and shallow, reminding one of that of the Green Heron. I could not ascertain definitely that a brood had been raised there this season, but my friend was under the impression that it had, but this is doubtful as one of the birds had been shot. None were to be seen about the nest on June 2. — Cook Co., Texas. 0 « ^ 6r. //. Ragsdale, Gainsville, .July. 1884. ^7 Oct. 1886.] AND OOLOGIST 165 Nesting of the Swallow-tailed Kite. BY J. A. SINGLEY, GIDDINGS, LEE CO., TEXAS. Having been so fortunate as to take two more sets of the Swallow-tailed Kite {Elanoidesfm-fieutus) during the past season, I can add more evidence as to the number of eggs in a set laid by this species. The first set was taken on the llth of April. The nesr, as usual, was placed at the extremity of a limb, almost at tlie top oi a majestic cotton- wood tree, and directly on tlie bank of a small stream. The eggs, two in number, were of a reddish tint. No. 1 measured 1.82x1.43; No. 2, 1.78x1.46. No. 1 was finely marked ; the larger end being entirely covered with a rich brown, concealing the ground color and running up in irregular points past the larger part of the egg. No. 2 was ordinary, being marked with a few small blotches of an umber color and large shell markings of an obscure lilac. It can be best described as purple, brushed over with a thin coat of whiting. As the nest could not be ap- proached within ten feet, and the eggs liad to be “scooped” out with a minature insect net at the end of a pole, 1 cannot give dimensions of nest, wdiich was built of sticks and the usual compli- ment of green moss. Tlie young chick was full formed in the egg, though soft — proving that the set was complete. The second set was brought me by one of my collectors, on April 27th. His notes read : “Nest in a large pin-oak tree at extremity of a nearly horizontal limb, about sixty feet up and twenty- five feet from top of the tree. Built of Spanish I ! i moss, entirely concealing the sticks used in build- ing. Eggs taken out of nest with small bag tied to the end of my fishing pole. Both birds show- ing fight.” I did not wonder at the kites showing wlien I tried to blow the egg, as incubation was so lar advanced that the young birds were nearly dry in the egg. They would have hatched in the next three days. I dialled a one-eighth inch hole in the eggs, and putting them in a box, hole downwards, I set the box on a bed of the “Texas Cutting Ant” and they finished the cleaning pro- cess during the next twenty-four hours. I have saved many sets of eggs of hawks and owls in this manner. The set, as is usual, contained two eggs, meas- uring 1.85x1.47 and 1.79x1.43. Ground color was dirty white (probably stained,) and irregular- ly marked with spots and blotches of dull brown — in the smaller egg tending to form a ring around the smaller end. I have lieard of a set of three being taken in the Colorado River bottoms, but can get no jrarticulars. I have a record of thirteen nests having been found containing eggs or young, and in only one instance — a nest with three young — was tliere more than two eggs or young in the nest. Can it be that Audubon de- pended ujjon hearsay in stating that four to six was the number of eggs in a set ? Very often the boys whom I employ to collect tell me that they have found nests of the Red-bellied Hawk with four or five eggs ; tliose of the Turkey Buzzard with three to four eggs; and Swallow-tailed Kite with five eggs ; but I notice wlien I require them to authenticate the sets taken for me, those large sets fail to appear. I have been making in quiries in other portions of the State about this species, and in a letter lately received from Mr. E. T. Humble, Secretary of the Texas State Geo- logical and Scientific Society, he says : “ The Swallow-tailed Kite arrives here early in the spring, leaving late in the fall. No nest has been observed with more than two eggs." Tlie italics are mine. The Swallow-tailed Kite is an abundant sum- mer resident in Mr. Humble’s locality, Houston, Texas, and everywhere else along the timbered portions of the coast country, consequently he can be accepted as an authority. I have made arrangements with collectors in three counties to collect the eggs of this Kite, and we will see what another year will bring forth. [The above paper is of far more than ordinary interest and value. It gives the experiences of a practical collector who has given much time and thought to the subject, and who speaks from his own experience. The results obtained from the observation of such men are always of the greatest importance, and Mr. Singley deserves the thanks of all inter- ested for his efforts to settle the facts connected with the nidification of this beautiful bird Audubon seems to have been the first who as- serted that this Kite laid from four to six eggs, and he has been followed by nearly all writers down to the present day. Even so careful a naturalist as Mr. N. S. Goss, seems to have gone astray on this subject. In The Auk for January, 1885, (Vol. H., p. 19,) he related his experience in finding the nests of this species, and states that he examined four of them. “ Three of these had only one egg in each ; in the other there were two eggs nearly ready to hatch, and the shell of one at the foot of the tree ; but I have it on good au- thority,” he continues, “that in the near vicinily a nest with four, and another with six, eggs have been found.” It is unfortunate that Mr. Goss did not give his autliority for this statement, as his theory (given further on in the same article,) that crows had eaten the other eggs in the nests that he examined, must be regarded as a very fanciful one. In the new edition of his Birds of Kansas (1886,) Mr. Goss repeats hi? statement that this species lays from “four to six” eggs. It would be inter- esting to know if Mr. Goss has ever seen a well authenticated set of four eggs of this Kite, to say nothing of a larger number, or if lie knows of any one who has them in his possession. All the sets that the present writer knows of are uniiormly two in number.— rJj^P.N.l — : o. XI. Oct. 1836 . LOGIST. 83 84 Nesting of the Swallow- tailed Kite in Texas. On the twenty-fifth of April, 1888, my friend, Mr. Tliomas S. Gillin, and myself, with two guides, started on an extended wagon trip through the central and southern counties of Texas, which we finished on the fifteenth of May, having traveled over four hundred miles, and through some of the worst country and hottest weather I ever experienced. On April 26th, as we were riding through a post-oak belt, we saw our first Swallow-tails. First we saw an immense flock of Mississippi Kites coming down towards us from the north- ward before what afterwards turned out to be a heavy shower. Back of them, and in the middle of the rain, came the Swaliow-taiis (Elamides forJicatAis) flying low over the tops of the trees. They had the motions of the Night Hawk (Chordeiles popetue), and although we were in plain sight and had shot several Mississippi Kites {IcMnia subccerulea), they did not appear to notice us in the least. The Swallow-tails seemed to follow a certain direction, darting down now and then to pick a lizard off a tree, which they did with the greatest ease and dex- terity; but the Mississippi Kites seemed un- settled, and drifted back and forth from north to south, or east to west, just as the wind blew. From this we judged that the Swallow-tails were returning to their nests and mates from an expedition after food, and thought that if we were to follow the general direction they took we might find them breeding. We went on for about ten miles and came to a river lined on either side with immense cottonwood trees. Here we saw several Kites sailing, darting and skimming along close to the surface of the water. As I looked I thought them the most graceful creatures I had ever seen. From a great height they would dart down like lightening to within, it seemed to me, an inch of the water, and then, turning over on one side, glide along like a shadow for a short distance, then up again in a beautiful curve, to repeat the same perfor- mance. In their upward flight, I saw them several times pick lizards from off the branches of trees, with the utmost ease and without paus- ing for an instant. When two met in the air, which they often did, they compared notes in their loud peculiar voice — a sort of a twitter- ing scream. The beautiful river flowing swiftly along be- tween its high banks; the magnificent trees, festooned with Spanish moss; the brilliant flowers; the solitude; and these lovely birds, in their graceful gyrations; all combined to make a perfect picture. How I wished for an instantaneous camera ! We stood for a long time taking in the scene, not wishing to spoil it. But as it was getting on in the afternoon we began to look around for the nests. Further down the river we at length found several, all situated in the very tops of the highest cottonwoods. They were very hard to find, for they were built so high, and so very cleverly concealed, that when you did spy one, it looked more like a bunch of moss than a nest. With the aid of our field glass, we at length saw a bird sitting on one, and my friend Mr. Gillin determined to climb to it. It can be imagined what he had before him when I say that the tree was six feet in diameter at the base, the first branch was eighty feet from the ground, and the nest over one hundred and twenty-five feet up, on a branch about as thick as a man’s arm. But Mr. Gillin is an indefati- gable climber, and had a good pair of irons, and, after a great deal of hard work, reached the nest to be rewarded with two beautiful fresh eggs. The bird waited till he was within a few feet of her before she left the nest. This set of eggs measures 2.05x1.48, 2.00x1. .51, and are marked as follows: First egg has a white ground color, tinged with a very faint shadow of yellow; the smaller end heavily marked with large irregular blotches of chest- nut or dark brown. The other egg is marked heavier at the larger end with same colored ORNITHOLOGIST [Vol. 14-No. 6 spots as egg No. 1, and the smaller end is cover-ed with very small specks of reddish- brown; ground color is the same as the other egg. The nest I brought home with me, and I describe it as it lies before me; It is about one foot wide by two feet long, and four inches deep (or high), perfectly flat on top, with just the least depression in the middle to hold the eggs. Composed of a harsh green moss with I a little Spanish moss among it, and with a . mass of small twigs mixed in among the moss. , These twigs must have the moss growing on I them, for I saw several Kites carrying twigs with moss hanging from them, during our 1 trip. The nest is just a platform, and what keeps the eggs from rolling out during the : high wind, when the bird is not on, I cannot 1 see. All the other nests we saw were of the same description, with the exception of one, which was composed wholly of Spanish moss. As the trees were all covered with this moss it : was very hard indeed to see the nests. When the parent bird left the nest she cir- cled around the tree uttering plaintive cries, which soon brought all her relations and friends to see what was the matter. They began to scream also, and showed a disposition to attack Mr. Gillin. I picked out two of the prettiest and brought them to the ground with a load of No. 4, but even then they were so high up that I only wounded them very slightly. 1 I had often heard that this Kite when 1 wounded offered no resistance, but when I i went to pick up my first bird it was the most savage thing I ever saw. It did not wait for me, but came to meet me with a rush, and I had to skip around right smart to get hold of it and not let it get hold of me. The second bird i Was just the same. ‘ We did not try any more trees that day, for I we thought from the signs that the other nests were either old or not yet finished, so we found a good place and went into camp. The next day we went on down the river, and about two miles from our camp of the day before, went into camp again, as we saw several Kites flying around among the tops of the Cot- tonwoods. Here, after a day’s tramp through mud about three feet deep, and like unto wax, we located a nest and succeeded in getting another set of eggs. Mr. Gillin as usual climbed the tree to the nest, which was even higher than the one he had climbed to before. We saw several other nests, but as each tree took an hour or more to get up and down, and required the outlay of an immense amount of strength and skill, it was only those nests which we were certain had either eggs or young in them that were attempted. On April 28th, still along this same river, we saw a Kite sitting on her nest in a Cottonwood. The nest was built out on a very small limb which we afterwards found to be over two hundred feet from the ground. And there were no limbs for over a hundred feet up. At first we decided not to try it, but it seemed too bad to go away and leave it, so we made a try, and Mr. Gillin at last succeeded in reaching the nest to find only one egg, just laid. This was the most beautiful egg we had seen so far, and is as follows: Measures 2.00 xl.44, ground color is a yellowish-white; around the smaller end blotched with large spots of reddish-umber, rich and beautiful, and around the larger end the spots are small and irregular, and lighter in color. At nine o’clock in the morning. May 4th, just as we were crossing a small creek only three or four yards wide, one of our party spied a Kite’s nest, which we thought was a new one on account of the fresh green moss hang- ing from it. We immediately went into camp, and then drew a bee-line for the Cottonwoods. The first nest we came to was nearer the ground than any we had found. It could not have been more than fifty feet up. One of our guides climbed to this one and found two beautiful eggs, the Kites meanwhile flying around and darting at him as they did at the first nest we found. These two eggs re- sembled very much the second set we had collected, excepting that the brown spots were richer and larger. The next nest we discovered, although not more than ninety feet up, was the hardest of all to get at. The tree it was on was a cottonwood very thick at the base, and when Mr. Gillin put the spurs of his climbing-irons into it it crumbled away like so much gingerbread. He could not get any hold at all, so he climbed a smaller tree that stood within about twenty feet of the one that contained the nest, and when he reached the top, forty-five feet from the ground, throw- ing a rope over a limb of the big tree, he drew it taut and fastened it, and then climbed over on the rope till he was able to reach the first branch. Even then he had a hard climb, which the intense heat made worse, but at last succeeded in reaching the nest which con- tained three eggs. They were about one-half incubated, and were a very beautifully marked set. This was the last set of Swallow-tailed Kites’ eggs we collected. Although we saw a great many more birds before we left the State, we never found any more nests. At Key West, Florida, in the month of June, we saw two Kites sailing over the town. This was the last glimpse we had of this beautiful bird. G, B. Benners. Philadelphia. O AO. XI V, J UQe. 1889 p. 83-85 Dec. 1886.] AND OOLOGIST 181 " of the pond. All the tracks ended in three or four long footsteps pointing in that direction, and I knew they must be standing on the other side of a wide bed of reeds, to reach which I must wade the deepest part of the pond. Cautiously I ventured in. Ivnee deep at first and very muddy — then waist deep and a harder bottom, growing gradually shallower till I was safely hidden in the reeds. Cautiously I forced my way through and as I caught a glimp.se of the black water be- yond I saw away off on the farther edge a group of a dozen or more of the great awkward birds I was seeking. But my heart went away down, for they were a. good hundred yards frohh the edge of my cover. Still I thought I would get a little closer, and in about three steps more I was well rewarded for iny trouble. For right beside me in a little opening in the reeds was the bulk of the flock, some forty or fifty in number. A little more careful sneaking and I was almost among them. I could have touched the nearest ones with my gun barrel. So I squatted right there in the mud and water and watched their antics and studied their uncouth positions, making mental notes for future reference, in regard to “mount- ing.” One young follow close beside me plainly “felt a bite,” for he raised one long parti-colored shank and scratched the back of his head with his toe, balancing himself in an unsteady fashion on the other limber pin. Having accomplished this feat to his own satisfaction, he made a most elaborate bow to his nearest neighbor and open- ing eight or ten inches of mouth, remarked “Ker- wauk.” With a somewhat less studied salutation, his friend replied, “ K-wmuk ker ka wow.” Then a big old chap, bald-headed and austere in de- meanor like myself and the emblem of our glori- ous republic, gave the youngsters an angry glance and remarking “Walk-walk,” suited the action to the word and walked over to them and gave each in turn a sounding kick, which they deftly caught on half-spread wing and only replied by a depre- cating series of bows. Bowing seems to he a regular accompaniment to the conversation of the Wood Ibis, Likewise the rule that “Little folks should be seen and not heard,” is plainly a part of flieir code of manners, for every exchange of civilities among the young fry was visited by instant chastisement from the patriarchal toe. . At last my juicy seat became rather too much so foK comfort, and with a mental “beg your paL don, sir,” I aollected the grave old patriarch* What a rush and heating of broad pinions fol- lowed the report of the gun ! Seeing no intruder they kept circling close over the spot, and had I been so minded I could no doubt have collected a ,scpre or .more. But one was enough for me, so I made myself visible, shouldered my victim and started back. ^ Getting home, (“home is where the h.eart, is,”) 'I built a rousing Are and hung up my'drenched irarments to dry. Near by on some -coals drawn aw^ay from, the general mass, m^. Kail was soon br()wning to a turn. By the time I had finished my repast my ''clothes were sufficiently dry to be resumed. So I started on my return trip, by a different route, striking ^J'ound the end of the island next the open- marsh. The Sea-side Finches seemed exlremely plenty about one little hummock, and it was an opportunity not to ho neglected. I beatfit up well and obtained foui . They are in aU- sorts of pluiritige now, just the time to get specimens to finish opt a series. At the landing I took a Sanderling wit'U my last load of twelves,' and in the creek I cracked both bar- rels at a 'koyal Tern. A beautiful si^^cimen he proved'to he, so light on the back as to be almost white, and with just suspicions of black ton the occiput. Nesting of the Swallow-tailed Kite in Becker County, Minnesota. BY .J. W. rllESTON, n.YXTBE, TOWA. It was my good fortune to spend the collecting season of 1886 in the difficult, though by no means uninteresting region bordering on the head waters of the Bed River of the North, Here are many beautiful lakes, begirt with shaggy woods — a county abounding in fish and game— the delight of the angler and sportsman, and the joy of the summer tourist. But should the ornithologist, and especially the oologist, visit this country he will be disappointed unless he is content with much hard work, and few sets of eggs— although some of them may be very desirable. In the northeastern portion, and extending far beyond, is a virgin wilderness of mingled lake and forest, where one may wander for days and not see a human habitation ; and the only feathered friends to cheer his way will perhaps be an occasional Flycatcher with its smart peet-peet, or a lone Vireo. Perhaps a Barred Owl may peer down upon him out of some overhanging bough, or a frightened Broad-winged Hawk dart down from a dead tree-top to hide himself from view ; while clear and long echoes the cry of the weather-wise Loon, as he flies swiftly from lake to lake. Somewhere back irom the shores of one of these lakes, where the rich flat land had sent up a heavy growth of basswood, elm and balsam, and the higher ground was covered with poplar, sugar 6o 182 ORNITHOLOGIST [Vol. 11-No. 12 tree and birch, a pair of Swallow-tailed Kites, (Elanoides forfleatus), had chosen a nesting place. For many days I had watched their graceful flight here and there, over woods and waters, sometimes in search of food, and again carelessly sailing and darting about almost out of sight against the clouds. When late in May they began carrying material for a nest, I lost no time in the endeavor to find the location. By watching from my boat along the opposite shore, I could see them make fre- (juent visits to a larch swamp at one end of the lake, from which they carried sticks a mile or more, keeping just among the tree tops. During the day they flew back and forth many times, but I failed to decide where they stopped, for they frequently let the burden fall, when they w'ould fly about aimlessly. The ne.vt morning 1 climbed a tall tree near where the previous day had been spent, and had a much better view than from the water. The sun w'as driving away the morning fog, which hung about the trees in light waves. Long shore lines of sand and yellow canes appeared in the distance, broken by^ bordering hills. Soon a Kite passed over the trees with a long stick floating out behind, and after flying a mile or so it disappeared from view, Its mate had flown a short distance in advance and but little above, and now simply continued on its course. This was repeated time and time again until I was confident that I could go within forty rods of the tree which they were occupying, but, fearing that my presence might disturb them, 1 did not go tor about a week. When I did return, many hours were spent in impatient watching ere a Kite was seen, and then it paused but an instant in its rapid flight past the spot where they had been before. In another hour it returned to pass swiftly away again. As it was time for the bird to be sitting, and as the male was doubtless carrying food to its mate, I came to ground, rowed to the opposite shore, three-fourths of a mile distant, and went in the direction as near as possible to do where marshes and tangled windfalls intervened. Choosing the upturned roots of a giant oak as a suitable hiding place, I concealed myself among some overhanging branches, and lay for four hours, being unable for all that time to catch sight or hearing of the Kites. Many^ pieces of larch sticks and long moss indicated, however, that the nest was near. Night came on, and I returned to camp. The next day was hot and sultry, yet I re- mained from morning until sunset in the same place of concealment, with no better results than before. It is not an easy matter to go to a point in heavy woods seen from a distant elevation. However, the day following I climbed a very tall basswood tree half a mile nearer than the first, and was soon rewarded by seeing the bird go di- rectly to the tree where the nest was. Then, with greater care, I approached the place and alter a half hour the male bird came flying by me with some small object in his talons. He paused some fifteen rods beyond, and then darted out of sight. I therelore went nearer, the trees being so close together, and so densely leafy, that looking into their tops was a matter of much difficulty. While waiting for the return of the bird, and while 1 was peering among the branches, they were parted by a sudden breeze, and there, just before me, in a tall white birch, reposed the long sought nest, with the mother bird sitting upon it, not thirty yards from where I had waited two days. Any one familiar with birch woods will con- cede the difficulty in ascending their trim, tall trunks, without the aid of climbing irons. In this instance the nest was placed in the extreme top branches of a tree whose greatest diameter W'as less than twelve inches, with scarcely a dozen branches, and these close to the nest, which was borne titty feet upwards, and sw-ayed by the slightest breeze. A glance was sufficient to show that the nest could not be reached, as a man’s weight in the top would bend it to the ground. Fortunately a strong young sugar maple tree grew near by, which I ascended. Then I drew the two trees together, forty feet from the ground, and bound them with a strong cord. The tree, thus rein- forced, was strong enough to bear my weight until the nest and its two valuable eggs were se- cured. The bird remained on the nest until I was well up the tree, and then flew close overhead, where it was soon joined by its mate ; and both kept up an incessant screaming. The nest consisted of small, dead larch branches, thickly interwoven w'ith a long, tine moss, or lichen, found in great abundance on the larch everywhere in that region. This substance also formed a soft lining to the deep, well-shaped structure. In the nest were over two hundred separate pieces, which had been carried, one at a time, from a marsh a mile distant. It therefore required the travelling of four hundred miles to do the work ; and there were certainly as many pieces strewn upon the ground as appeared in the nest. The birds also made long circuits w'hile about the nest and at the swamp, where the ma- terial was gathered, so that no less than eight Dec. 1886.] AND 0 hundred miles must have been traversed while constructing the nest. The eggs, as has before been stated, were two in number, and W’ere slightly nest-stained. No. 1 is of a faint creamy white color, with points and small splashes of umber brown generally dis- persed over the surface. There are a number of larger spots, and a large patch of the same color is spread out, almost covering one side of the egg. The shape is a short oval. It measures 1.90x1.52 inches. No. 2 is a creamy while, with scattered specks and spots of chestnut color, these increase in size until the larger end is heavily marked with large, bold spots of rich chestnut brown. Its shape is a perfect oval and it measures 2.00x O.&o. XI. .Deo. 188(3. p. /S'-' ' 1 ^ 3 . OBSERVATIONS ON ELANOIDES EORFICATUS AND ICTINIA SUBC^RULEA IN KANSAS. BY N. S. GOSS. The Swallow-tailed Kite is an irregular summer resident along the timbered streams, being abundant some seasons and rare others. It arrives earl}’ in May, and devotes the first few days to courtship and mating, the next to selecting nesting places, which I have so far found to be in the small branches near the tops of the tallest trees. By the last of the month the nests are com- pleted, and as the trees by that time are in full leaf they are largely hidden from view. They are made of sticks loosely in- terwoven and lined sparingly with the soft, ribbon-like strippings from the inner bark of old, decaying or dead cottonwood trees. The eggs are oval ; the ground-color is cream white, irregularly spotted and blotched with dark reddish brown, running largely together towards the small end- The measurements of three are 1.84 X 1.48, 1.87 X 1.50, 1.90 X 1.50. As the nests are hard to reach, 1 have been able to examine but four. Three of these had only one egg in each ; in the other there were two eggs, nearly read}’ to hatch, and the shell of one at the foot of the tree ; but I have it on good authority that in the near vicinity a nest with four, and another with six, eggs have been found. 'I'he males assist in building the nest, alternate in sitting and in feeding the young, and, in fact, appear as attentive as the females.* April 27, 1876 (the earliest arrival noticed), a pair put in an appearance at Neosho Falls, and as they continued to circle in their graceful flights over the same grounds — the edge of the prairie and timber on the Neosho River — I became satisfied that their nesting places would be selected within the circle, and I devoted my leisure moments to watching their movements. On the 5th of May they were joined by another pair, and later in the day, to my great surprise and joy, two pairs of Mississippi Kites * I saw a pair of tliese birds once in the act of copulation. They were sitting on a small, horizontal limb close together and facing each other, when, quick as a flash, the female turned or backed under the limb, the male meeting her from the top. I8SS.J Seton on Manitoban Hirds. 21 appeared and also joined in the circling flights. It was a beauti- ful and, to me, exciting sight to watch their various motions and coqueting evolutions, sailing high in the air, swooping down with partially closed wings, skimming along the prairie, lost for a moment in the woods, ascending in spiral flights, gliding from slow to swift and swift to slow without a flit or break, like Swallows. For grace and symmeti'y of action I would rank them first among the aerial birds, attaching the blue ribbon to the Swallow-tailed. Unfortunately I was called away on the 8th and did not return until the i8th. At first I thought the birds had left, but I soon occasionally noticed one here and there flying low down and often disajapearing in the tree-tops. I lost no time, but hastened, with glass and gun in hand, for the timber em- braced in their former flights, and in a short time had the pleasure of finding a pair of the Swallow-tailed Kites building a nest in the top of a large hickory tree, the nest being about two- thirds completed; by cautiously approaching and lying down behind a fallen tree I was enabled to watch them unobserved, and, with the aid of the glass, to plainly see them at their work. When either came to the nest alone with a stick it would place it hurriedly upon the nest, but when both met at the nest they would at once commence fussing about, pulling at the sticks and trying to arrange the material, first one getting upon the nest, and then the other, turning around as if trying to fit a place for their bodies. I think at one time they must have worked at least ten minutes trying to weave in or place in a sat- isfactory manner a stripping from the inner bark of the cotton- wood. As builders they are not a success. After a little over two hours of watching I turned my attention to hunting for the nests of others. In this I failed, but found near by, sitting on the dead limb of an oak, a pair of Mississippi Kites, busily engaged in dressing up their feathers. My anxiety to secure a pair for my collection overcame the desire for their eggs, especially as the birds are rare in the State and the finding of their nest doubtful ; I believed I could get both by shooting one from the tree and the other on the wing as it left ; so I carefully crawled to within easy shooting distance, sprang to my feet, shot one, and to my sur- jarise the other did not fly, but with outstretched wings looked down with astonishment at its mate fluttering upon the ground. It was too good a shot to lose and I dropped it beside the other. and proudly started for home, more than satisfied with my success. On the 27th of the same month I found the other pair of Mississippi Kites nesting in the fork of a medium sized oak, about fort^ feet from the ground. It was an old Crow’s nest fitted up with a few extra sticks and green twigs in leaf for lining. In the nest there was one egg. I returned on the 2d of June for the found the nest robbed and the birds sitting in a tree near by, but they appeared to take no notice of, or interest in, the nest as I approached it. On July 5, in strolling over the grounds, I noticed one of the birds on the same nest. In it there was one egg in an advanced state of incubation, but with care I was able to save it. Color, pure white; measurements, 1.70 x 1.35. This nest and the ones examined of E . forjicatus ssiQxe. on the breeding giounds ot the common Crow, wdiich accounts for the robbery and the few eggs found. Auk, 2, Jan., 1885. p. /*f - Z ! ■ ETON 071 a72t. others thrived and readily ate from our hands from the first. They solicited food by a short scream very like that of a Night- hawk ; they menaced by snapping their bills and hissing, and they expressed surprise and anger by a querulous, rattling whistle. By the time they were about two months old they were fully fledged and could fly fairly well. In general color they were pale buff with black bars ; a little lighter than the typical Bubo virginiamts, but considerably darker than the mother. At this time the horns were less conspicuous than when in the down. T'hey ejected a pellet about five times jaer week, and if supplied with more food than they require for present use they hide it until they are hungry. At first we (Dr. Gilbert and myself) were in hopes of taming them, but their ferocity grew with their growth ; and when they were able to fly, so far from submitting to handling, it was not safe for a stranger to come near them. No better illus- tration of their temper could be given, than the fact that tvri • flicT lArATA .left without food for a When either came to the nest alone with a stick it would place it hurriedly upon the nest, but when both met at the nest they would at once commence fussing about, pulling at the sticks and trying to arrange the material, first one getting upon the nest, and then the other, turning around as if trying to fit a place for their bodies. I think at one time they must have worked at least ten minutes trying to weave in or place in a sat- isfactory manner a stripping from the inner bark of the cotton- wood. As builders they are not a success. After a little over two hours of watching I turned my attention to hunting for the nests of others. In this I failed, but found near by, sitting on the dead limb of an oak, a pair of Mississippi Kites, busily engaged in dressing iqr their feathers. My anxiety to secure a pair for my collection overcame the desire for their eggs, especially as the birds are rare in the State and the finding of their nest doubtful ; I believed I could get both by shooting one from the tree and the other on the wing as it left ; so I carefully crawled to within easy shooting distance, sprang to my feet, shot one, and to my sur- IDi'ise the other did not fly, but with outstretched wings looked down with astonishment at its mate fluttering upon the ground. It was too good a shot to lose and I dropped it beside the other. A Massachusett s Record for the White-tailed Kite. — As this bird is rare east of the Mississippi River, and in fact is scarcely much more than a straggler even in that region, its appearance on the Atlantic coast as far north as New England is very extraordinary. On May 30 last I saw an adult bird at very close range on the island of Martha’s Vineyard. It was so close and was watched with glasses for such a long time, both by myself and Mr. C. E. Brown of the Boston Society of Natural History, that there was not the slightest doubt in our minds as to its identity. We were spend- ing several days on the island studying the birds and on one of our daily trips came upon this specimen very unexpectedly at a fresh meadow at the head of one of the ponds. When first seen he was sitting on a post not a hundred yards distant and we took him to be a marsh hawk, but on look- ing again before even raising our glasses, we saw that he was something very [different. His white head and tail and more especially the black lesser wing coverts were very distinctive at that distance and immediately attracted our attention. The ashy blue back was what suggested an adult Marsh Hawk at first glance. From this distance we watched him for some time with our glasses and on a nearer approach he flew to another post, which he shortly abandoned to soar above the meadows at a height of a hundred or more feet. There were many Red-wing Blackbirds nesting in the bushes by the stream and they were so alarmed at his presence that they several times attacked him. We imagined he was looldng for mice or perhaps frogs, as he apparently did not bother the birds. When he saw his prey below he would commence fluttering like a Sparrow Hawk, and then, on seeing his chance, he raised his wings above his back, so that they almost touched, whereupon he descended, gaming speed as he went. In- stead of checking himself on nearing the ground, he seemed to dive head- long into the grass and bushes, remaining out of sight several seconds before reappearing. We were unable to make out if he had anything in his claws when he arose again. This process was repeated several times and was a remarkably interesting performance. Finally he lit on another post and I crawled towards him keeping close to the fence, so that I actually got within ten yards of him before he flew, getting a wonderful view. He arose from there very much startled at my presence, flew over the hills and disappeared. The following week, on our next trip, which we made in the hopes of again locating him, he was seen once more at long range, but except for these two times we never caught another glimpse of him. I believe this Kite has never before been seen in New England, but of course it can only be regarded as a very rare straggler, scarcely deserving a place on our New England list. — S. Prescott Fay, Boston, Mass. Ank 27.0ot-1910 p. Eastern Massachusetts. !AjiAAM Cd ~ ^d. ^ ot> U-_^:^zT^i 7 ~ Jiff/ . /m 3 / '^. /y?" /f ^ ^ 4 ?/ >?t.V. ' ■ -'— / 1 3 ^. Ax. 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April, JJt. ia93. -4:7' mL^j£ l^PC^ A!v^ ^ jurr- t,vw^ ts; ^ ^ >-.^, ou/AC# /c^ _ ^ ^ ‘r^ 9 ^ mL yf\^ osijo^ A <»<>«- i^jL^ fi *.rf ^.*' ujx>^ u>t/A-^ ■s^ y»^ 7~ ^2" . 'aa. S^ Zi t .-■■■ /•r ^ ?.. ,'J-^ IX t’^.'A. (Air, Cx * f t *' J ' ^ T-«V. ^*^.,- ^a.s, (Tj^ \,NAAAVAA^t^^^3jA^ ^^A^rXj H/\f^ ^^^kAAAAA* VN.-^rvA; (5^AAA4 9^jXi^ O^ ,^«r«S~x 0-1^ “OCi^ 4 do-^lu. . Aaa-mT t>*~,.^.j^rT~^ 3^ ^dA-t>(0 '*t Cf''^ ^^d-*_eA-A^ 0X<^ ci. *AA. Cx t/\A.A*Ad»-vA) 3(7” 0-t.K^ (^ d,,^ _ ^ l^'r. Ir.B.Bishop. o- V..UCUS uuasonicus. Marsh June 23. rvot common. One Auk, VI. April, 1889. p. 147 Dwight, Bummer Birds of Prince Edward Island.* Circus hudsonius. Marsh Hawk. — Birds of this species were occa- sionally seen, recognizable at long distances by the white bar on the tail. It was almost the only Bird of Prey met with. Auk X. Jan, 1893, p. V, NewfoundlandNotes. ATrip uptiie Humber P iyer, Aug. 10 - Sept, 24, 1890. 16. Circus hudsonius. Marsh Hawk. — R ather uncommon. Louis H, Porter, New f ork City. Auk, XVII, Jan. , 1900, p. 7 /. 77 Birds of Toronto, Canada, 07 Janes H. Pleiniin-', Part II, Land Birds, Aid:, XXIV, Jan., 1907, p.72. 120. Circus hudsonius. Marsh Hawk. — Regular summer resident, April 2 to October 21; earliest March 20, 1895, adult male; the young are abundant from September 1 to early October. A male taken May 28, 1895, is in changing plumage, very worn; latest record December 10, 1902. Breeds in Ashbridge’s Bay. Rye Beach, N. H.1867. / f /i.n Bye Beach, N. H. 1808. / C<\c^ / >kA< Bds. Obs. in Franconia, N.H. June li-21 ’86, and June4-Aug. 1,’87. W. Faxon 3. Circus hudsonius. Marsh Hawk. — Common. Auk, V. April, 1888. p.l61 Birds Obs. at Bridgewater, N.H. Julyl2-Sept, 4, 1883. P.H.AUen Circus hudsonius. — ^Not common. A«k, VI. J»B. . 188e. p. 70 77 Mass. {7tear Co7ico7'd'). JMZ 3 /- d M/uO, 2,— _ ^ ' CUj, /ri^=^ 3o'^ ^^■XA-''*'‘'‘''W ■/l/<755. (^near Co7icord). 1888 APR 9 - 12 - * ■ Falmouth, Maes. 1689 . ' , ,. Jo. ' x ' 1 i ■ «t-'^svw<-*M \t.t.i-f tLj ^ /#S"~ S. V/. Denton. hcftlZ'2^{rzruf''J-^ AM-iX^^-d^- Birds of Bristol County, Mass, P. W. Andros. Circus hudsonius (Linn.), Marsh Hawk. Summer resident, common. Breeds. O.&O. XII. Sept. 1887 p.ia9 '^7- 0 (A^c^ , - / ’ - J.zi^ dilttcSB. 3/ a. Mass. 1885. Obci m#**T Berkshire ttr ll2i J-v/v . Birda of the Adirondack Region. C.H,Merriaia. 124. Circus hudsonius Vieillot. Marsh Hawk. BuUL N.O.O, Q.Oct, 1881, p, 233 Notes 0*1 Some Winter Residents of Hudson Valley. B.A.Mearns. 17. Circus cyaneus var. hudsonius. Marsh Hawk. — Observed during every winter; particularly numerous in that of 1874- 75, when numbers were observed in the bluish plumage, on the meadows near Con- stitution Island. Bull N.O.O. 4 ,Jan.. 1879. P.37 Bds. Ob*, at Little and Great Gull Te- lands, N.Y. Aug. '88 B.H.Dutchn the 26tMf June. Ev- idently I was expected, ^ I found the nest deserted, but V losing around in the vicinity I found tit^;'other nests, with nineteen eggs in each.: took both sets and one of the nests,- the Asmer of which > was more generous than the ^hers, as she constructed another nest on th^ame site V and laid ten eggs ..for me. I remoV'sd them \n the 24th of July- Incubation wali then ^1 advanced 5 the embryos were abXut thl'^ame size in each egg, which showed,.^ the %d had changed her mode of incuba- tion, \the eggs in the first set varied from a fresh\ne to five that were just on the point ofV^ching. The eggs were ar- ranged thr\e layers thick in each of the nests contaiSing nineteen; which to me was a strang(^6rrangement. ^ Considering the number of \gs and their size, whic j in proportion to the birds is quite large, P averaging 2.46X1.83, it seems to be the ~ Circus iiudsonius -. First set of four May 18, second set of five June 2, and third set of three June 18, Long Society. May 18, two sets of fives, Broad Brook and Ayer’s Jactwv. May 23,^tof five. North Stonington. O.&o. X.'Feb.1885.o .Hi' Raptores, Bristol County, Mass. Hilton B. Read. i Marsh Hawk (Circles /iMffeonra,?). This species i is coininon in suininer and has been observed ill winter. Its nest has been found coniiuouly and differ- ing from all otlier hawks it builds on the ground, usually in some clump of low bushes, 1 on a hummock, near low meadows and marshes. The eggs are laid about the second week in I May, and a complete set numbers five, and in some instances six, but principally the former. The food of the hawk consists of frogs, mice and other “humble game” in search of which he may be seen quartering over the meadows or following some winding course of a brook, in- tent upon securing some unlucky batracMan. This hawk is represented in all sections of the county and reports of the nesting have been received from nearly every town, eoncln- siveljr proving it to be one of our most common raptores. 0,&0. XII. Aug. 1887 P.1I8 h- © t~ 00 00 o o d 6 I shells. These were earpfnliT t !' ^ ' - - — . I The one represented here measured'7|x ^^The' ^'e^aining one was a trifle smaller. 4 X The nest was situated in the open egg op SANDIlrLL CRANE- -exact size. hand radi used W to tj, stack wet seasons. It y b feet in length by 2 ^ in width, m wjl T)r FT A A.T. ' -War. 13 , ] r-T-T^i Ml Locke, Michigan. mniLL CRANE. May, 1882, I took dutches of Cooper’s HaAvk handsomely spotted, and on corres- ponding dates in 1883, from the same birds similar sets. This, with other data at hand, tends to show that the Accipiters and Marsh Hawks which lay plain sets one year will lay plain sets the next year, and that those that lay the prized marked sets may fairly be counted on to do so in sue cessive seasons. Though this has been doubted by some authorities, with whom I still hax'e a bone to pick, yet I can show it i to be the rule among the Buteos, by exten ' siA'e yearly series of eggs from the same localities. Individual shapes will also be +/-\ y^l'v + r«T«^ J 1 The Marsh Hawk and Its Eggs. i PART 11. Early and authentic mention has been made of large sets of eggs of Circus liud- sonius. But the reference on Page 115 of Brewer’s N. Am. Oology (Smithsonian, 1858,) to clutches of eleven, twelve and thirteen, with their misty data, may now be dismissed from the record. Some ac- count of a nest of seven can be found in the O. and O., Page 14, Vol. VI. Last year, in his fresh Northwestern field, Capt. Bendire took a set of seven plain eggs. The same season, I took an extreme set of seven covered with showy markings. May 14, 1882, the nest had four eggs, and it held seven fresh eggs when taken. May 21. The i three added eggs were bluer than the ■ others, but the first part of the clutch had ' the best markings. These were not the Z' T' mere “ accidental deposits of lymph,” re- 12, ( ferred to by the late Dr. Brewer as liable jilac^ to appear on all plain eggs. But they pre- andl sen ted a good superficial design and the or rj cloudy sub-shell coloring seen on average CTan sets of Bed-shouldered Hawks. May 20, /a 1883, secured another set of five nicely ^ marked eggs from this pair of Hawks. In / f — Circus jiudsonius : First set of four May 18, second set of live .June 2, and tliird set of three June 18, Long Society. May 18, two sets of fives. Broad Brook and Ayer’sPactmv. May 23,^tof five. North Stonington. 3LOGIST [Vol. 9-No. 2 an acceptable paper. The theory of its publication contemplates the aid and co- operation of all sincere ornithologists and particularly reliable correspondents in differ- ent localities throughout the United States. Without this, its object can never be ac- complished. By “reliable correspondents we do not mean youth who think that to part of the marsh, where they were taken only after long and careful search. The Marsh Hawk is, perhaps, the most noiseless of our breeding rapaciae. Some individuals have an intonation of the Eish Hawk, but in general the cry approaches more nearly that of the Cooper. To those who only know the subject of this sketch as the skimmer of the meadows, floating and quartering spaniel-like over brushy lowlands, he will hardly seem like a being of the upper air. Yet he has his aspira- tions, as we may see. In the forenoon of May 9, 1878, (an exceptionally early sea- son,) I took three sets of eggs of Marsh Hawk in North Stonington ; and in. those wide meadows, where there were no trees I O.&O. X.Feb. 1885.0. U Rapfcores, Bristol County, Mass. Hilton B. Read. Marsh Hawk {Circus Imdsonius) . This species is common in summer and has been observed in winter. Its nest has been found commonly and differ- ing from all otlier hawks it builds on the ground, usually in some clump of low bushes, I on a hummock, near low meadows and marshes. The eggs are laid about the second week in I May, and a complete set numbers five, and I in some instances six. but principally the ‘ former. The food of the hawk consists of frogs, mice and other “humble game” in search of which he may be seen quartering over the meadows or following some winding course of a brook, in- tent upon securing some unluck}^ batrachian. This hawk is represented in all sections of the county and reports of the nesting have been received from nearly every towm, conclu- sively proving it to bo one of our most common raptores. 0,& 0. XII, Aug. 1887 p.118 a fO lO O .S ^ 5 S M I carefully saved l~2^~n ~ ^ — — = I The one represented here measured 3f x ^he one was a trifle smaller 4X The nest was situated in the open 3f X2 egg of sandiull crane-: ■exact size. on . hand rad, naed bj ftn"^ torc.^r^g '“t “ “ ™ ® “Oo"* 12 fool .n length bg 2J i„ .„d w ■“ H AR- pDHILL CRANE. Eeb. 19 , issr. Mar. 19, 1868. Mar. 16, 1859, Mar. 8, I860. Apr- 2,1861. Mar. 2 ", 1862. Mar. 31, 1863. Apr. 12, 1864. Mar. 20,-1866 Apr. 3, 1866. Mar. 25, 1861. Mar. 13, 1868. Mar. 28, 1869. ■ Mar. 31, 1810. Mar. 9, isn. Mar. -28, 1872. Mar. 19, 1873. Alar. 20, 1874. Mar. 27, 1875. Apr. ;8, 1876. Mar. 30. 1877. Mar. 15, 1878. I Apr. 9, 1879. i Mar. 30, 1880. I -Mar. 29, 1881. I Mar. 1 , 1882. I Mar. 13, 1883. i -Dr IT A Mar. 13,1 - H. A. Atkins, Locke. Michigan. The Marsh Hawk and Its Eggs. PART 11. Early and authentic mention has been made of large sets of eggs of Circus hud- sonius. But the reference on Page 115 of Brewer’s N. Am. Oology (Smithsonian, 1858,) to clutches of eleven, twelve and thirteen, with their misty data, may now be dismissed from the record. Some ac- count of a nest of seven can be found in the O. and O., Page 14, Vol. VI. Last year, in his fresh Northwestern field, Capt. Bendire took a set of seven plain eggs. The same season, I took an extreme set of seven covered with showy markings. May 14, 1882, the nest had four eggs, and it held ' seven fresh eggs when taken. May 21. The three added eggs were bluer than the ' others, but the first part of the clutch had the best markings. These were not the T: mere “ accidental deposits of lymph,” re- 12, ( f erred to by the late Dr. Brewer as liable plaq to appear on all plain eggs. But they pre- and' sen ted a good supierficial design and the or ri cloudy sub-shell coloring seen on average (wan sets of Eed-shouldered Hawks. May 20, 1883, secured another set of five nicely marked eggs from this pair of Hawks. In / f ' ■■ Cikcus IIUDSONIUS : First set of four May 18, second set of five -Tune 2, and third sot of three .Tune 18, Long Society. May 18, two sets of fives. Broad Brook and Ayer’sPactiwv. May 23,^trf five. North Stonington. ^ O.&o. X. Feb. 1885. CP .A. • May, 1882, I took clutches of Cooper’s Hawk handsomely spotted, and on corres- ponding dates in 1883, from the same birds similar sets. This, with other data at hand, tends to show that the Accipiters and Marsh Hawks which lay plain sets one year will lay plain sets the next year, and that those that lay the prized marked sets may fairly be counted on to do so in sue cessive seasons. Though this has been doubted by some authorities, with whom I still have a bone to pick, yet I can show it to be the rule among the Buteos, by exten sive yearly series of eggs from the same localities. Individual shapes will also be found to obtain among the eggs of our resident Raptores. Dr. Coues says the eggs are “ not certainly distinguishable ” from Cooper’s, (vide Birds of the North- west, Page 337.) Yet in a series of both. Marsh Hawks can be seen to be smaller, without measurements — only now and then does a set appear to be as large as Cooper's. Our Harrier will not allow the liberties we take with the nests of the Accipiters — no- tably the Sharp-shinned. If egg No. 1 is taken the others will be laid elsewhere. Last season, by my merely looking at her first egg laid, though never handling it, a Preston HawL deserted the nest, and laid the other four eggs in a remote wooded part of the marsh, where they were taken only after long and careful search. The Marsh Hawk is, perhaps, the most noiseless of our breeding rapacise. Some individuals have an intonation of the Pish Hawk, but in general the cry approaches more nearly that of the Cooper. To those who only know the subject of this sketch as the skimmer of the meadow's, floating and quartering spaniel-like over brushy lowlands, he will hardly seem like a being of the upper air. Tet he has his aspira- tions, as we may see. In the forenoon of May 9, 1878, (an exceptionally early sea- son,) I took three sets of eggs of Marsh Hawk in North Stonington ; and in, those wide meadows, where there were no trees Raptores, BristolCounty, Mass. ' Hilton B. Read. Marsh Hawk {Circus hudsnnius) . This species is common in summer and has been observed in -winter. Its nest has been found commonly and differ- ing ;from all other hawks it buiids on the ground, usnaily in some clump of low bushes, on a hummock, near low meadows and marshes. The eggs are laid about the second week in May, and a complete set numbers five, and in some instances six. but principally the former. 'I'he food of the Iiawk consists of frogs, mice and other “humble game” in search of whicli lie may be seen quartering over tlie meadows or following some winding course of a brook, in- tent upon securing some unlucky batrachian. This hawk is represented in all sections of the county and reports of the nesting have been received from nearly every town, conclu- sively proving it to be one of our most common raptores. 0,&0. XII. Aug. 1887 P.1I8 Feb., 1884.] AND OC or w'oody glades for the Hawks to steal be- hind, the females, after being flushed and shot at, would be joined by the males and hang for hours far overhead, mere specks in the sky, seemingly above the loftiest flights of the Buteos. — J. M. IP., Nor- loich, Gonn.O.&,0. IX.Feb.lSBA.p./t-zy ^ u a§ p p. raO ; May 18, 1884; May 20, 1882; May 17, 1881. On .June, (i, 1880, I found a nest with three young, one pipped egg, and one stale egg — showing the set must have been laid ten days sooner than my earliest record. Between 187.7 and 1880 1 had no precedents to go by, and find records of sets taken .June 1st, mostly with eggs well incubated. So, early in the morning of the 21st of last May, in an open wagon, with my climber and setter dog trained to point ground-builders, I started to drive seventeen miles to ISTorth Stonington, to look after my four or five pairs t)f Harriers. The light drizzle at start- ing increased as we covered mile after mile of the highway, until it became a most frightful down-pour. All bird-life disappeared, brooks were soon swollen beyond their banks, and tbe turnpike was such a river of water that in front of the farmhouses goslings were noted swimming in the middle of the road. The storm must have been most disastrous to the many flocks of young turkeys we saw. We were forced to take shelter from the deluge more than two hours in a small wayside shed. Our unheralded entrance dispossessed several tenants in the shape of two female Robins, a Phoebe, and a singing male House Wren. The I’ewee went off her nest on one of the sup- ports of the shed, and as one of the Robins seemed to go off the same nest, we ordered an investigation. It appeared that the post had been sawn in two, and a shingle slipped through it, that stuck out on each side. On the north side of the shingle was the Pewee’s nest with four eggs, and on the south side was tlie Robin’s holding four eggs. Thus, nests of Flycatcher and Thriisli were witliin eight indies of each othei'. The second Robin had placed her nest on the seat of a Buckeye mower which was on a slight scaffolding over- head. The cup of the nest was normal, but the bottom was so spread out with straw and hay as to nearly fill the seat of the machine. Tbe Wren, unmated to all appearance, had filled an old Barn Swallow’s nest with sticks, and had stuck bunches of sticks in every handy nook and crevice. Peering out through holes in the back of the shed, we saw what we took to be birds playing on a sheep barn forty rods out in the fields. I made a break through the rain to this out- standing barn and discovered our “birds” to be six young grey squirrels, and in a cranny I saw the warm husks and hair where they had been littered. As tbe clouds lifted and we backed out from our leaky shed for a fresh start, we saw a tew Purple Graokles and some bulky remains of old nests in an im- mense elm shadowing the farmhouse, and the farmer told us it was the only place for miles around where the Crowbills built. Tbe rain ceased, but it was afternoon before we began circling the first marsh. From this Copyright, 18.')0, by Fkank ]). Websteh. and the next bog we drew blanks. Though we fired our guns, tried all known arts, and with our already drenched clothes swept the heavy rain drops from every bush and briar we could not flush a feather. The third bog through which Broad Brook’s biggest feeder runs, we found to be wholly under water. While we were wading through a thick and brushy corner, a farmer’s voice from out of the depths of the swamp bailed us: “You hain’t seen nothin’ of a brindled yearlin’ heifer?” Xo, we hadn’t, but later we saw the body of the drowned calf caught by the brush in the main brook. Hopeless and bedrabbled, dog and men, we then drove to our last likely bog, only to have a further instalment of this wet day’s hard luck. In vain, by sections, did we apparently cross and re-cross every foot of the marsh. In fact we once emerged on the upland, blown and completely discouraged, unhitched our team, climbed .slowly in, and had actually turned around towards home, when my climber gave me such a look of mingled disgust and new con- fidence which 1 interpreted, so without a word we fastened our team and hurried back to the old bog which had never failed us before. Five minutes later though intent on my own beat, I bappened to look over my shoulder and .saw a Hawk start at the very heels of my climbei', but behind him, md after he had domly passed her hy. I shouted to him and he whirled around, fired, but missed the Hawk. I was delighted at the poor shot, for there were six fine eggs, and there may be another big clutch about May 20, 1890. Indeed this was within two rods of the spot where I got my finest set of seven eggs in 1882. Taking heart from this bit of luck, and hav- ing two hours more of daylight, we drove back to our first bog to sweep it with a long heavy rope. We were quietly knotting the rope on the bank when the male Hawk came quickly around a hill and plumped into the marsh with a cry like a Cooper. Answering its call the female at once took wing and sailed away for her supper. We wore holding back the dog, and I had be,en sitting on the gun to keep my climber from using it; but at this iroint the dog broke away and dashed into the bog, but came to a stand at the nest. Xor would the Hawk start from her five eggs till we walked up to the nest ahead of the dog, which we would not allow to .jump for his usual mouth- ful of feathers. Now we do not know why the birds lay so close all day, unless from the heavy atmosphere and the depression from the floods of rain. In the dry weather our dog rarely has failed to point Marsh Hawks, and the birds start before we get within a rod of the nest. This bog was of sphagnum, fast filling with young maples, and the nest was big enough to be moved. Xo nest held the six eggs; the bog itself was free of trees, but the substratum of sphagnum was wholly overrun with a curious matted tangle of dwarfed sheep laurel. The wooded swamp back of the bog was tilled with pitcher plant and purple cypripedium and great clumijs of rare wild calla lily (C'aWapahi.s-tri.s-). ,/. M. W. t),&O.XV,lvIir. 1890 p. 5i-3V 140 ORNITHOLOGIST [Vol. 18-No. 10 The Marsh Hawk. The Marsh Hawk or Harrier ( Circus hud- somus) is one of our commonest Hawks. It generally arrives in this locality about the middle of March, and from that time till the last of November can be seen sailing over the prairies and fields in search of its prey. Unlike most Hawks, it can be readily recog- nized at a distance by means of the white tail coverts. I shot my first specimen of this species on April 9, 1892. It was hov- ering around over a spot on the prairie, and finally lit on the ground, and I shot it. On going to retrieve the game I found it had in its talons a large field mouse, variety {^Arvi- cola riparius) ; the mouse was still alive, but badly lacerated. The bird was a fine male, of a bluish-gray color above and white below, sparsely streaked with light reddish- brown. It measured L. 19; W. 14 ; T. 9. The iris was a pale straw color. The male of this species is about as beautiful a Hawk as can be found. On June 4, 1892, while wading through a small slough, I saw a Hawk fly from a clump of grass and fly off over a hill. I went over to the nest, which was in the middle of the clump of grass and float- ing in water about two feet deep. It was about sixteen inches across, rose about three inches above the water and was nice and dry inside, neatly hollowed, and composed of small sticks, rushes, reeds, small rose bush, slough grass, and lined with fine dry grass. I left the nest to see what the Hawk would do. She circled around quite a ways off, seemingly unconcerned, and then came back to the nest. I then returned, and gathered in the five eggs, which were a dirty white color, unmarked, with incubation advanced. My next find of this species was May 13, 1893. While I was hunting, a Hawk flew up from the ground in front of me. On in- vestigation I found a nest containing three beautiful fresh eggs. They were so different j from the Marsh Hawk’s eggs I had found j before, that at first I thought they were of I another species. The nest was on the ground, about half way up on the north side of a high, steep hill, composed of large weed stalks, mostly placed on the lower side of the nest to make up for the slant of the hill. It was lined with fine dry grass. The ? bird was soon joined by the $ , and flew screaming around very high up in the air. I came back to the nest about two hours afterward to try and secure the ? bird. She left the nest as before, and as she made a low swoop my companion shot her. Took the eggs, which were of a pale bluish color, two of them rather thickly blotched over the whole surface with a very light brown with a lilac tinge, looking like miniature eggs of the • Red-tailed Hawk ; while the third egg was thickly spotted wfth many small and a few large spots, all of a clear brown color. The 9 Hawk measured 21 inches in length, W. 15 /^ ; T. She was considerably larger and more courageous, though not as beauti- ful as the male bird. The back was brown, without any bluish tinge, and with the streaks underneath larger and darker. The iris of this bird was brown. This occasion was the only time I ever heard a bird of this species utter a sound. Rudolph AI. Anderson. Forest City, Iowa. Q.* O.Vol.l8,Oot.l8S3 p.140 May 11th I received a full set of eggs of the Marsh Harrier, five in num- ber. The nest was placed on the ground in the prairie grass. Two more nests were found, May 18th, containing respectively five and six eggs. These last were slightly O.&o. vui. !ec3. p. /f A Philadelphia ■Collection of Eggs of the Eaptores. Circus hudsonlus. Mar.sli Hawk. One set of ! seven, one set of six, three sets of five, two sets of four. Total: seven sets, thirty-six eggs. O.&o. Xiy.Mar. 1889 incubated, (/oUaotion of Bap tores Eggs. J.P.NT. I Mar.'xh Hawk, 2-4, 3-r), 2-(;. 1-7, s 40 O.&o. XV, Apr. 1890 . p. 50 A Series of Eggs of the Marsh Hawk. Mr. Ruigway, in bis Manual of North Amer- ican Birds, page 226, says that tlie eggs of the Marsli Hawk {Circus hudsonius) are “white, or bluish-white, usually plain, but often more or less spotted or blotched with pale brown.” He also states that the number of eggs laid is from three to eight. The series ’ndw before me does not agree with his statements, as none of the eggs are white, and none of the sets contain as few as three, nor as many as eight. Four eggs I consider is the smallest complete set of this bird, while seven is an extreme number. Four to six eggs is probably a cor- rect statement of the usual number laid. Set I. .June 16, 1885. Riverside, Cal. Col- looted by E. M. Haight. Kest made of sticks and dry tides, on the ground in a bunch of tulos which had been bent over. Pour eggs, incubation advanced. Bluish-white, unmarked; 1.69x1. .34; 1.72x1.37; 1.72x1.34; 1.75xl..37. This set contains the smallest sized eggs of this species that I have ever seen. Set II. .June 8, 1883. Ogle County, 111. Col- lected by Perry Steele. Nest on the ground in a marsh. Five eggs, fresh. Bluish-white, faintly spotted with drab-gray. There are also a few small spots of drab on two of the eggs; 1.92x1.44; 1.88xl.;J5; 1.87x1.43; 1.80x1.40; 1.81x1. .38. Set HI. May 19, 1884. Natick, Sunkway Swamp. Collected by .1. II. O. Nest of sticks and grass, on the ground, with small bushes and high grass around it. Five eggs, fresh. Bluish- white; three of the eggs are spotted with dark gray, the other two are unmarked; 1.78x1.42; 1.77x1.43; 1.74x1.37; 1.79x1.41; 1.78x1.42. Set IV. May 8, 1886. Brushy Prairie, four and a half miles southeast of Baxter, Iowa. Collected by .1. W. Preston. Nest of coarse grass stalks and weeds for a rim, lined heavily with soft grass. Neatly made, on ground. Six eggs, advanced. Bluish-white. Four of the eggs are unspotted, but the other two are faintly marked with drab-gray. On three of the eggs there are very curious protuberances which are rough to the touch. 'Ihcy are firmly fastened to the shell, and appear to be some malformation of it, as they will not rub off. I have never seen anything like these on any other eggs; 1.82x1.51; 1.85x 1.43; 1.91x1.46; 1.93x1.49; 1.90x1.45; 1.85x1.41). f Sot Y. .May, 21 1889. North Stoniugton, New London (!o., Conn. Collected by “J. M. AV.” (C. L. Rawson). Nest in bog, of tangled and matted sheep laurel, on sphagnum ; foundation. Six eggs, fresh. Bluish-white, two of them faintly spotted with drab-gray, and the other four unmarked, except one which has a single spot of burnt umber; 1.83x1.42; 1.80x1.42; 1.85x 1.43; 1.88x1.48;/ 1.82x1.43; 1.81x1.41. The lindiug of this set( was charmingly described in The Oiinitiioi.- OGIST AXD Oor.ooiST for March, 1890, by .Mr. Rawson. Set VI. May 18, 1884. Cranberry , Bog, Preston, New London Co., Conn. Collected by “.J. M. W.” (C. L. Rawson). Nest slight. Four eggs, fresh. Bluish- white, one entirely unspotted, which was laid the day the set was taken, and the other three spotted with drab- gray; 1.85x1.44; 1.96x1.46; 1.78x1.47; 1.97x1.41. Mr. Rawson visited this nest throe times, taking the eggs at his third visit. He also got two other sets from the same pair of bircls in 1884, and three sets in 1885. Set VII. June 9, 1885. Cranberry Bog, New London Co., Conn. Collected by “J. M. W.” (0. L. Rawson). Nest embryotic. Five eggs, fresh. Bluish-white, two eggs un- marked, the other three distinctly spotted with ' cinnamon; 1.85x1.38; 1.82x1.36; 1.81x1.37; 1.85x1.35; 1.87x1.38. Mr. Rawson took two other sets from this pair of birds in 1885. Sot VIII. May 20, 1882. North Stoniugton, New London Co., Conn. Collected by “ J. M. \V.” (C. L. Rawson). Nest in big open bog, with few scattering maples. On May 14th the nest contained four eggs which wore left to see it more would be laid. On May 20th it was again visited, and Mr. Rawson found it contained seven eggs when they were taken. All were fresh, and they are a truly remarkable set. All are bluish- white. One of them is unmarked, three others are faintly marked with drab-gray, but the other three are marked more heavily than any other eggs of this species that I have ever seen. Two of these have largo blotches of fawn color, while the third has large spots of burnt umber around the smaller end, and no one would recognize it as an egg of Circus hudsonius. As Mr. Rawson well remarks (O. & O. for Febru- ary, 1884, Vol. IX, page 16); “Tliese wore not the more ‘accidental deposits of lymph,’ i-e- ferred to by the late Dr. Brewer, as liable to appear on all plain eggs, but they presented a good superficial design, and the cloudy sub- shell coloring seen on average sets of Red- shouldered Hawks.” They measure; 1.78 x 1.45; 1.84x1.48; 1.85x1.45; 1.84x1.45; 1.81x1.45; 1.76x1.45; 1.79x1.48. J. P. N. O.&o. XV,MaT.1890 IS 6 3. uts i A Large set of Lggs. By 8. F. Rathb-un;* VI, p. 14. — A clutch of 7 found at Ounnville, Out. i 743. Late. Nesting. By G. S. Agersborg. Ibid., p. 71. ^^sh Hawk and Mallard with fresh eggs, July 4, at Veyinillion, D. T. & O* VCUtVlXl TSWngOolOgist. 1 , 554 - Marsh Hawk. By Fred. S. Odle. Ibid., p. lei.AuY.yU. Jan. 1890. P.iri The Ool^ist. 1632. Marsh Hawk. By Alfred W. Comfort. Ibid., pp- 234-235. Auk, Vll.^ Jan. ^ Al= A^:^- ^ VL XCgc/UnH \ ^ Cf_t^ ^v ^ X%„„>x^ ^L.k. € t ^C^ ^ ^ Xlk. t-t-rJ-r' 3?rotection of the Nest by a Marsh Hawk (^Civcus cyuncus liud~ sonius). — On an afternoon in the middle of last June I was walking through a large swamp in this vicinity (Brunswick, Me.), engaged in col- lecting botanical specimens, when I heard a peculiar cry, and looking up I saw a Marsh Hawk (Circus cyaneus hudsonius) sailing through the air distant about a quarter of a mile from whore I stood. The cry or call was frequently repeated, but I took no further notice of it at that time, and walked on through a growth of low trees towards a large open space of perhaps twenty acres. M^hen I reached the confines of this space the sound increased very much in intensity, and, looking up, I saw the Hawk diving with great rapidity towards me at an angle of about forty-five de- grees. I had hardly time to raise for my protection the cane which I held in my hand, before the Hawk came within a yard of my head and shot directly up into the air again. I saw that it wms a mate, and I then espied the female sailing high in the air. I Avalked on towards the middle of the open swamp, while the male flew off some distance and circled around, approaching and then receding from me. He finally made another dive for me, coming in a straight line for some distance with the same great rapidity as before. This time I struck at him with my cane, but did not succeed in hitting him on account of the suddenness of the dive, although he came within reach. This method of attack was repeated for nearly a dozen times, as I kept advancing in a direct line. After the third or fourth time he did not come nearer to me than twelve or fifteen feet, although he would dive as before. I had no thought of there being a nest in the vicinity ; but at last I almost stumbled upon one which was built m the ordinary manner upon the ground, and contained four young Hawks. After I reached the nest, the male flew to a distance and approached no more, but, together with the female, which had remained far off during the whole time, flew around in circles, and uttered a cry at intervals. I took one of the young Hawks, and went away. On the next afternoon I re- turned with a gun, expecting that the bird would dive as before if I walked across the open space, and that I might thus obtain a shot. But the Hawk did not repeat the mode of attack, not coming within range. I also at- tempted the same on the third day, without success, both male and female circling at a great height. An interesting question here arises as to the cause of the Hawk s change of manner. Did he perceive a purpose, on the second and third occasions, in my attempts to beguile him within range ? or had he learned from the first day’s experience that his efforts to drive me from the nest would prove unavailing ? The latter seems probable to me, — ■ Leslie A. Lee, BrunswicJc^ j^fe. BULlt £TiQtO» l&SO, p* / S' b ~ ^ S'? Ml Eastern Massachusetts. cu. OaL q. ^ tSd- 6d.. iJL. i, a I o '-1' // 7 f-^. if I '6 ?/ . t Jo ^ /m. y ^ 3 u 11^^- I W ^ im l^j^. d Ca,-V'-*_ J ./ B. tt- I CoJtxj^ 4 'J K- , lid Ji'^y n' - If' 787 / ,/ - im 7@ /m ll(^^fA.) I Is Iff 7 ^ msr im (Am^CjAj^JiA if ifdi. , 7 ?€ 3 ^r/y-' /nsL fi/iiUli J/ue ') ^^T4.e^/ ///7 iJItAaJ^^ . C«A.. l%htU*H./ Gtv.-MrtX 9ls9f Xu /V^JT 92 . Cambridge 1891. liay 4. Acoi'!)iter velox . llass. on first entering the Maple Swamp I had twice started a bird at which I could not get a fair sight but which flitted along close to the groimd among dense bushes precisely lihe a Robin. It appeared much larger, however, and I set it down as a Sharp-shinned Hawk, a surmise which proved correct for returning past the edge of the woods I saw it rise and fly off over the open, soaring a little in narrow circles, and finally disappearing towards the north. I have observed the Rob in-1 ihe flight just mentioned on many previous occasions. As far as I know it is peculiar to this species. Is it an instance of mimicry designed to enable the Hawk to get near its victims without alarming them? Copiod f I’oni Journal. ni assii-jchufifc! B CB . 1899. JC ^ Zyl^yg^ zZZ^/^^yZAS y^z:t^ ZZ . ' . c2.2^ . J^^^zyc-ti^' zzzzf^zyiy A~ yi^e^tycZ'2!!^^2zfy!^/^^ . 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