Vol i906 in ] General Notes. 221 



The European Lapwing on Long Island, N. Y. — A European 

 Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) was shot late last fall on the grounds of Dr 

 Eagleton, Meccox Bay, Watermills, Long Island. The bird was in good 

 plumage and health. — C. William Beebk. New York Zoological Park, 

 New York City. 



Occurrence of the Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) and the Turkey 

 Buzzard (Cathartes aura) in Newfoundland. — Dr. R. R. McLeod of 

 Brookfield, Nova Scotia, has been kind enough to place at my disposal 

 some brief notes relating to the recent capture in Newfoundland of a Lap- 

 wing (Vanellus vanellus) and a Turkey Buzzard (Cathartes aura). The 

 data just mentioned consist (1) of extracts copied by Dr. McLeod from a 

 manuscript letter addressed to him by "the Editor of the St. Johns [New- 

 foundland] ' Evening Herald,' Mr. Forneaux "; (2) of a newspaper clipping 

 bearing neither title nor date, but with the letters "J. E. F." inscribed in 

 pencil on the margin; (3) of a printed letter signed and dated "James P. 

 Howley, November 27. 1905." As the "J. E. F." clipping contains several 

 sentences closely similar in expression, as well as thought to some of those 

 in the letter written to Dr. McLeod, I assume that the initials just quoted 

 represent the name J. E. Forneaux and that the account to which they are 

 appended was written by him for the St. Johns 'Herald.' The letter by 

 Mr. Howley is printed on paper of a different quality and color. It was 

 apparently taken from some daily newspaper and, no doubt, from one 

 also published in Newfoundland. 



Mr. Forneaux writes to Dr. McLeod that "'the wanton lapwing' was 

 shot on the 23d of November, 1905, and the Buzzard a few weeks before. 

 I handled the lapwing and it was in excellent condition, being quite plump 

 and its beautiful plumage scarcely ruffled. It was killed about a mile 

 inland from the sea-shore, making its way south, just outside the city 

 limits. Does it not seem the ' irony of Pate' that the brave little traveller 

 that had come so far through storm and tempest should fly right over a 

 man behind a gun and fall a victim to his unerring aim. He was probably 

 the only hunter in a vicinity that covers many miles of country. Both 

 birds will be mounted and placed in the museum in charge of Mr. J. P. 

 Howley." In his newspaper account "J. E. F." says that the locality 

 where the Lapwing was killed is "in the vicinity of the White Hills." 



Mr. Howley states that the Turkey Buzzard "was shot by Mr. Jocelyn 

 near Renews, not far from the whale factory at Aquaforte." "Can it be 

 possible," he asks, "that it has been attracted by the whale offal floating 

 southward on the bosom of the Arctic current, and has it followed up the 

 scent to locate the origin thereof?" The Lapwing, he says, was "sub- 

 mitted to me by Mr. Wm. Clapp. M. H. A., who shot it near Quidi Vidi." 

 Mr. Howley thinks it "almost impossible that this bird could have come 

 direct across the Atlantic from its European home" and he is "inclined 

 to believe it may have been up somewhere in Greenland or Iceland," and 

 "been driven westward by the prevalence of strong gales of easterly and 

 northeast winds." - William Brewster, Cambridge, Mass. 



