. r Bulletin 



Birds of Princeton. I Princeton 



■' L Bird Club 



55 (316). Mourning Dove; Carolina Dove. Zenai- 



dura macroura [Linn^. 

 An occasional winter and common summer resident, especially 

 along the Millstone. Arriving from the south early in March, the great 

 majority at once retire to the tangled patches along the water courses to 

 breed, although nests are often found within the town. On April 1 8, 

 1899, I found four nests, all in hawthorn trees; one contained the un- 

 usual number of three eggs. Two broods are generally reared, both 

 old and young collecting in small bands several months before their de- 

 parture, which takes place during November. A few winter over in 

 mild seasons. 



Order RAPTORES. Birds of Prey. 

 Family Cathartidse. American Vultures. 



56 (325). Turkey Buzzard. Cathartes aura [Linn.). 



A rare winter and common spring, summer and fall visitor. While 

 not nesting in this immediate locality, the proximity of their 

 breeding range enables us to observe this species frequently during May 

 and June, but they are much commoner in March before nesting and 

 again from July until cold weather. On February 6, 1898, I saw two 

 individuals near Grover's Pond, circling high in the air, and Mr. 

 Scott has several winter records. He has also seen large bands of 

 twenty or more individuals in the fall. 



57 (327)- Swallow-tailed Kite. Elanoides forficatus 



[Linn.). 



There are but two records for the occurrence of this rare straggler 

 from the south. Mr. C. F. Silvester of the University, saw one sev- 

 eral years ago during the summer, on Mt. Lucas ; he was unable to 

 secure it, but is positive as to its identity. Dr. C. C. Abbott writes in 

 his list of Mercer County Birds, " I saw a specimen of this hawk in 

 November 1883." 



58 (329). Mississippi Kite. Ictinia mississippiensis 



( Wils.). 



A rare straggler. Dr. C. C. Abbott writes me that he has seen 

 skins of this species taken in this neighborhood, in the collection of 

 George Collins, Taxidermist, of Trencon. 



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