ADDEN DA. 



Cathartes californianus. — In Newman's "Zoologist" (Vol. XIII, p. 4633, 

 1855) occurs the following in reference to tlie eggs and nesting of the California 

 Vulture. It is contributed by Mr. A. S. Taylor, of Monterey. I have given it with 

 the view of putting on record all the statements and descriptions made public in this 

 connection, though I do not think the account here given will be confirmed in all 

 respects by more full and certain testimony. Mr. Taylor's information is, as may be 

 seen, derived from the reports of others, and is therefore not so reliable as it would 

 be if given from his own observations. 



" The egg of the bird is three inches broad and five long, about one third longer 

 than a goose's egg. Its color is a dirty pale blue, spotted brown, and it is nearly as 

 thick as an ostrich's egg. The same person informs me, that the female lays only 

 one egg during the season, and makes her nest on the ground in the ravines of the 

 mountains, and generally near the roots of the red-wood and pine trees. It is 

 three months before the young birds can fly." 



Htpotriorchis femoralis. — Mr. Nathaniel H. Bishop, of Medford, Mass., has 

 furnished me, since the preceding pages were in type, with the following additional 

 facts relative to the history of the HaAvk found by him on the Pampas, and called 

 by the inhabitants the " Alcon." 



" During my pedestrian tour across the continent of South America, I found the 

 ' Alcon ' to be a common resident of the Pampas, Avliere it may be seen standing for 

 hours in the grass, or circling in the air in search of food. Upon the Travesia, or 

 Desert of San Luis, which lies between the Pampas and the Andes, like the Burrow- 

 ing Owl, it is only occasionally met with, excepting about the farms in the vicinity 

 of the mountains. During the winter, which along the eastern base of the Andes is 

 very mild, the 'Alcons' resort to the wheat-fields and farm-yards, searching in the 

 first-mentioned localities for mice and insects, and in the second for the refuse of the 

 table, devouring cooked as well as raw meat. I do not recollect seeing them prey 

 upon small birds ; certainly the latter do not fear them, as it is no uncommon thing 

 to see 'Alcons' and small birds upon the same bush. iVbout San Juan, during the 

 fall and winter months, these Hawks return singly at night to the same nesting- 

 place, living in perfect harmony. I have seen as many as forty collected together, 



15 



