342 General Notes. [^ t k 



about within twenty yards of a number of observers, some of whom were 

 familiar with the species in the South. — Frank M. Chapman, American 

 Museum of Natural History-, New York City. 



Buteo borealis harlani in Minnesota. — On April 12, 1893, I secured a 

 beautiful specimen of this Hawk on the prairies of Lac Qui Parle 

 County, near Madison, this State. Mr. Robert Ridgwaj has examined 

 it and pronounced it not quite adult. He considers this the most 

 northern capture of this species. The following are the data: No. 1500' 

 Collection Albert Lano. Length, 22.50; extent, ^4.00 ; wing, 21.00; tail. 

 10.00 inches. Weight, 2 lbs. 12 1-2 oz. Ovaries size of no. 4 shot. 

 Stomach empty. — Albert Lano, Aitkin, Mi////. 



A Note on Buteo borealis lucasanus Ridgway. — This form is usually 

 cited as a 'var.,' and occurs as such in both the old and new A. O. U. 

 Check-Lists, where it is based on "Buteo borealis var. lucasanus Ridgw. 

 in Coues's Key, 1S72, 216." The only reference to this bird at the 

 place cited is: "An unpublished variety from Cape St. Lucas is B. luca- 

 sanus Ridgway, Mss." It will be noticed, hist, that Dr. Coues names the 

 form as a species ; second, that the name is a manuscript one, hence 

 under the new practice should be credited to Coues if otherwise correct; 

 third, there is no description, unless the words " Cape St. Lucas " be con- 

 sidered such, which would hardly be justified under either of the three 

 bases given in Canon XLIII of the Code. The correct citation appears to 

 be, Ridgw. in Hist. N. Am. B. HI, 1874, 25S, 2S5. — William Palmer, 

 Washington, D. C. 



Feeding-habits of Purple Finches. — The following interesting obser- 

 vations on the manner in which Purple Finches {Car podacus pur pu reus) 

 feed their young are communicated by Mrs. A. C. Davenport, of Brattleboro, 

 Yt. She writes: "During the time the young were in the nest the 

 parents came continually to my window for hemp seed, eating rapidly 

 for ten minutes at a time. They then usually sipped a little water, flew 

 away, and returned in a few moments. 



" As soon as the young left the nest, they were brought to my window- 

 and until they could care for themselves, or until anew brood was raised, 

 were still fed by the food being ejected from the crops of the parent birds. 



" I never saw any live food given them, though I watched closely, but 

 of course I cannot say decidedly of this. Neither did I see the old birds 

 'budding' any dining this period." — Frank M. Chapman, American 

 Museum of Natural History, JNeiv York City. 



First Occurrence of the Blue Grosbeak in New Hampshire. — On 

 May 26, 1894, an adult male Blue Grosbeak (Guiraca ca-rulea), in full 

 plumage, was seen near the house for about twenty minutes; I succeeded 

 in getting within ten feet of the bird, so that I could see all the markings 



