BIRDS OF THE VICINITY OF NEW YORK CITY 151 



long been extinct in this vicinity. De Kay (Zoology of New York, II, Birds, 

 1844, p. 200) writes that he had not met with the species in New York State, 

 but was informed at the time he wrote it was found in the counties of Sulli- 

 van, Rockland, Orange, Alleghany and Cattaraugus. This species is not men- 

 tioned by either Giraud or Lawrence. 



Order COLUMB^. Pigeons. 



Family COLUMBIDiE. Doves and Pigeons. 

 Passenger Pigeon ; Wild Pigeon {Ectopistes migratorius). Fifty years ago 

 the Wild Pigeon was an abundant bird in the vicinity of New York, but here, 

 as elsewhere throughout its range, it has become very rare. In place of the 

 thousands that used to visit us it is now observed irregularly and rarely. 

 (Lawrence, Auk, VI, 1889, p. 196, and Butcher, Auk, X, 1,893, P- 274). There 

 appears to be but one definite record since 1894 of the occurrence of the Wild 

 Pigeon near New York, that of an immature male shot at Englewood, N. J., 

 June 23, 1896, by C. I. Wood (Chapman, Auk, XIII, 1896, p. 341). 



♦Mourning Dove(Zcjtaidura macroiira). A common summer resident, under 

 favorable circumstances passing the winter. 



Ground Dove (Columbigallma passeriiia terrestris) . This is a species of 

 the South Atlantic and Gulf States. It has been once taken in this vicinity 

 (Grinnell. Bull. N. (). C, III, 1878, p. 147), but its occurrence is purely acci- 

 dental, and it is possible that the specimen captured was an escaped cage-bird. 



Order RAPTORES. Birds of Prey. 

 Family CATHARTIDiE. American Vultures. 

 Turkey Vulture ; Turkey Buzzard {Cathartes aura septentrionalis) . Of more 

 or less regular occurrence in New Jersey as far north as Plainfield in the interior 

 and Sandy Hook on the coast. It is also occasionally seen on Long Island. One 

 record notes the occurrence of a flock of eight birds of this species in Orange 

 County, N. Y. (Reynolds, Forest and Stream, XV^III, 1894, P- 181). 



Black Vulture (Catharista urubu). Breeds from North Carolina southward, 

 and occasionally strays as far north as Maine. There are records for Sandy Hook, 

 N. J. (Robt. B. Lawrence, Bull. N. O. C. V, 1880, p. 116), and Coney Island, L. 

 T. (Berier, Bull. N. O. C, VI, 1881, p. 126). 



Family FALCONID.'E. Falcons, Hawks, Eagles, etc. 



Swallow-tailed Kite {Elanoides forficatus). In this vicinity it has been 

 recorded from Raynor South, L. I. (Giraud, Birds of Long Island, p. 13), "South 

 shore of Long Island" (Berier, Bull, N. O. C, VI., 1881, p. 126), Chatham, N. J. 

 (Herrick, Forest and Stream, XII, 1879, p. 165). and Piermont, N. Y. (Nicholas, 

 Auk, XVII, 1900, p. 386). 



*Marsh Hawk (Circus hudsoiiius). A permanent resident, common except 

 during the winter. 



