222 General Notes. [AjJ., 



The Black Vulture again in Eastern Massachusetts. — On the 15th 

 of last September, 1905, I shot a Black Vulture (Catharista atrata) at 

 Waltham, Mass. This is, I believe, the fifth specimen on record in Massa- 

 chusetts. When first seen, at dusk, the vulture was sitting on the top of 

 a tall dead pine tree, on the edge of some woods, about two miles north 

 of the town. At a distance it looked somewhat like a large crow, but 

 much more awkward; its neck seemed to be sunk forward till it stretched 

 out between the wings. I started toward the vulture, keeping as much 

 out of sight as possible, but it must have seen me, for it raised its head, 

 and then flew in my direction, with long, steady flaps of its wings, and 

 evidently more curious than frightened, for it flew close to the tree tops, 

 and directly over my head. When the shot struck the bird, it fell heavily 

 to the ground, but immediately spreading both wings, as if to balance 

 itself, it ran awkwardly off through the bushes, until shot again. Al- 

 though full grown, it was evidently not an old bird; the plumage was 

 in fine condition, but had a very disagreeable odor. The outstretched 

 wings measured fifty-eight inches from tip to tip. The specimen, mounted, 

 is now in my collection. — J. H. Storer, Jr., Groton, Mass. 



Exceptional Eggs of the Bald Eagle (Haliaetus leucocephalus). — On 

 April 7, 1891, I took a set of two eggs from a Bald Eagle's nest in a tall 

 dead pine (since fallen) in Lincoln Co., Maine. On April 16, 1892, I took 

 a set of three eggs from the same nest. Incubation had begun in the set 

 of two and was about one third completed in the set of three. Is it possi- 

 ble that there was any connection between the loss of the birds' eggs in 

 1891 and their laying three in 1892? The nest was lined with green pine 

 boughs. When I found the nest I went very close to the tree without 

 seeing any bird, and it was not until I fired my gun over the nest that the 

 female flew off. I did not see her again until I was half way up the tree, 

 when both birds appeared on the scene, though at no time did they come 

 very near me. 



The eggs of the first set measure: — 3.20 X 2.27 and 3.04 X 2.21 in. 

 Second set: — 3.02 X 2.31, 3.03 X 2.20, 2.95 X 2.19. Average for the 

 five eggs: — 3.05 X 2.24.— B. G. Willard, Millis, Mass. 



Richardson's Owl in Eastern Massachusetts. — A Richardson's Owl 

 (Nyctala tengmalmi richardsoni) , female, was shot at Hyde Park, Mass., 

 near the railroad tracks, towards the Clarendon Hills station by Frederic 

 Downey, November 26, 1905. It was skinned by Mr. Frank Blake Web- 

 ster, of whom I purchased it. It is now in my museum. — John E. Thayer, 

 Lancaster, Mass. 



Great Gray Owl (Scotiaptex cinerea) in Minnesota. — Mr. Henry 

 W. Howling, taxidermist, Minneapolis, Minn., has recently informed me 

 that during the present season he has received eight specimens of this 

 species for mounting. He states that this number is more than he has 



