iSSs.] General Notes. "2 11 



The eggs were in a somewhat advanced stage of incubation, and some 

 difficulty was experienced in blowing them. They are a trifle smaller than 

 the eggs of T. alexandri, and considerably smaller than those of T. colu- 

 bris. Their color strikes me as being not so pure a white as the eggs of 

 the latter. As the male bird was not observed in the vicinity of the nest, 

 I may add that the female was shot and afterwards identified by Mr. Ridg- 

 way, which fact should be sufficient garrantee of the correct identification 

 of the specimens. — B. T. Gault, Chicago, III. 



Curious Food for the Kingfisher (Ceryle alcyoii). — A few years ago I 

 examined the contents of the stomachs of two young Kingfishers {Ceryle 

 alcyon), and found, to my surprise, instead of the usual remains of fish, 

 fragments of various beetles (Coleoptera) belonging to the families Cara- 

 bida>, Dytiscidae, and Scarabseidaa, the Carabidse and Scarabandae being 

 exclusively inhabitants of the land. Among the Scarabseidae an almost 

 perfect specimen of Afhodius fumetarius was recognized. 



Mr. A. P. Chadbourne, of Cambridge, Mass., who shot both the birds 

 in question, has furnished me with the following information. He says: 

 "The Kingfishers were shot at Kennebunksport, Me., on July 14, 1SS1. 

 They were both young birds, and were shot in the nest with a collecting 

 pistol. I observed one of the adults on the ground in a ploughed field 

 near the river side, but did not shoot it. The young were fully feathered 

 and able to fly." 



I am ignorant as to whether the food of the young of this species has 

 been studied by any one else or not, but is it not possible that they may be fed 

 regularly by their parents upon insects ? — R. Hayward, Cambridge, Mass. 



Occurrence of the Sharp-shinned Hawk in New Hampshire in Winter. — 

 Mr. Win. Little, of Manchester, N. H., writes me that a specimen of Acci- 

 fitcr fuscus was killed there Jan. 24, 18S5, by Geo. H. Walker, and mounted 

 by Hiram P. Young. This is, I believe, the first recorded instance of its 

 capture so far north in winter. — Jno. H. Sage, Portland, Conn. 



[It may be of interest to add that a female Sharp-shinned Hawk was 

 taken in Cambridge, Mass., Dec. 15, 18S4, by Mr. Joseph L. Goodale, who 

 has the specimen in his collection. — J. A. Allen.] 



Early and Accidental Occurrence of Catharista atrata and Tantalus 

 loculator in Kansas. — Dr. Louis Watson, of Ellis, Kansas, wrote me April 

 14, 1885, of the capture on the 27th of March, of a Black Vulture, a species 

 not before noticed there. Also that "A Wood Ibis barely escaped capture 

 March 26. It had been about the Creek (Big Creek) on my premises for 

 several days ; but after receiving a charge of No. 6 shot at short range rose 

 over the bank with a drooping leg, and has not been seen since. It is 

 almost incredible that it should be here, or anywhere else so far north, so 

 early." — N. S. Goss, Topcka, Kansas. 



The Glossy Ibis and Avocet at San Diego, Cal. — On January 1, while 

 on my way to the Santa Margarita Valley duck-shooting, I noticed a small 



