66 General Notes. ff "^ 



ber of eggs would appear to me to indicate a second laying, the first 

 having probably been destroyed. 



I am induced to give these records because Mr. Howe has stated in his 

 notes on these birds made at Williamstown, Mass. (Auk, Oct. 1902, p. 

 404), that the birds did not probably breed in Massachusetts until after 

 the middle of June. This may be true in Berkshire County, but is cer- 

 tainly not true in Massachusetts as a whole. The average summer tem- 

 perature at Marthas \'ineyard is 67^'^ and at Williainstown about 65'-', but 

 in winter the range is from 32° at the former to 22° at the latter. This 

 causes an earlier spring at Marthas Vineyard and will account for some 

 difference in nesting dates, though I should hardly expect lo find it so 

 much as three weeks. — Owen Durfee, Full River, Mass. 



Recent Records of the Wild Pigeon. — Occasionally some old-timer 

 writes to the newspapers announcing the return of the Wild Pigeon 

 {Ectopisles mtg-ratorius)^ and in nine cases out of ten the Mourning 

 Dove {Zenaidura macroura), has been the innocent cause. One recent 

 discussion in the Toronto papers was brought to an abrupt and apparently 

 satisfying conclusioxi by the announcement, copied from a sporting 

 journal, that one of the American consuls in South America had stated 

 that the Wild Pigeon had taken refuge on, I think, the east side of the 

 Andes, anyway that the consul and pigeons were far enough away to 

 satisfy the most inquiring. I have for some time kept a careful record of 

 reported announcements of Wild Pigeons, and among them I have selected 

 the following as reliable : 



i8q6. October 22, Toronto. "Saw eleven Wild Pigeons flying in a south- 

 west course over Well's Hill." — J. Hughes Samuel. 

 1898. April 14, Winnipegosis, Manatoba. An adult male taken, mounted 



by Mr. G- E. Atkinson, Winnipeg. 

 1898. September 14, Detroit, Michigan. Immature bird taken, mounted 



by Mr. C. Campion, Detroit, by whom it was sent to me. 

 1900. May 16, Toronto, Ont. Mr. Oliver Spanner saw a flock of about 

 ten flying west over the mouth of the Etibocoke River (ten miles 

 west of Toronto), between 10 and 11 a. m., and about an hour after- 

 wards the same flock returned, flying eastward towards Long Branch. 

 Mr. J. G. Joppling had joined Mr. Spanner and saw the birds return; 

 they were flying low, just over the trees. 

 1900. July 6, Toronto, Ont. "Saw five at Centre Island going southwest 



They passed out over the lake."— J. Hughes Samuel. 

 1902. May 16, Penctanquishene, Ont. One seen ; pair seen two days later, 

 in same locality by Mr. A. L. Young. — J. II. Fleming, Toronto, Ont. 



Turkey Vulture at Moose Factory, James Bay. — The Rt. Rev. Dr. 

 Newnhan, Bishop of Moosonee, examined a Turkey Vulture {Cathartes 

 aura) taken by one of his men at Moose Factory in June, 1898. The 

 record was given to me the following year, but I neglected to record it. — 

 J. H. Fleming, Toronto, Ont. 



