78 General Notes. [^ 



behind the eye is a triangular patch of black, its apex following the edge 

 of the bare orbital surface in a thin line to about half way up the eye. 

 The base of the triangle extends backward along the bottom of the ear 

 coverts, fading away at their extremity ; and forward, to the angle of the 

 mouth, following the base of the lower mandible in a very fine line until 

 it vanishes in the interramal space beneath. 



The albinistic tendency is not as regular in its distribution as the mela- 

 notic, and in this respect agrees with the majority of the others that have 

 been taken. On the upper part of the abdominal region, just at the lower 

 edge of the sternum, are two white contour feathers, now springing from 

 opposite sides of the incision made in skinning, but plainly arising from 

 adjoining parts and must have formed a single patch in life. The body 

 down on either side of the taxidermist's cut, and extending for a short 

 distance on either side and from the sternum to the vent is also white. 



Each leg is decorated with albino characters. On the left leg there is 

 a patch composed of three feathers showing f inch long and extending 

 from the front slightly over half way around the leg and with the lowest 

 point just touching the bare part of the tibia. On the right leg there are 

 but two white feathers placed a little more towards the outer side and 

 extending over a visible space of h. inch by a little less than half way 

 around and not reaching the bare parts by \ inch. 



All the white is pure and immaculate and not of the creamy coloration 

 seen in corresponding parts of A. exilis. — P. A. Taverner, Detroit' Mich. 



Avocet (Recur virostra americana) in New Jersey. — A record of the 

 specimen herewith reported has never been made in any ornithological 

 journal, though the label which it carries is now nearly 25 years old. It 

 was shot at Barnegat, on the ocean beach, and the label, written and en- 

 closed in the glass which protects the bird, bears the legend : "Shot by 

 John Fonda at Barnegat, Decoration Day, 18S0." Stone's 'Birds of E. Penn. 

 and New Jersey, 1 1S94, P- 7°» mentions but two records, one in 1S77 and 

 one in 1S86. This specimen is in Mr. Fonda's possession, nearly as fresh 

 as when mounted, at his home, 250 Gates Avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y. — 

 William C. Braislin, M. D., Brooklyn, N. Y. 



The Turkey Buzzard (Cart hartes aura) in Maine. — While driving at 

 Scarboro Beach, Me., on August 5, 190.4, my attention was directed to a 

 large bird flying over the woods several hundred vards 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 



