On the Birds of Ritchie County. 145 



Family FALCONIDiE. Diurnal Birds of Prey. 



90. AccipUer Cooperi Bp. Saw a female of this species May 2d. This 

 (with one of the larger Buteos which could not be satisfactorily identi- 

 fied) was the only member of the family observed here. 



Family CATHARTID^. American Vultures. 



91. Cathartes aura (L.) Illiger. Was informed by the inhabitants 

 that in former years it was very abundant, but for some unknown reason 

 had almost totally disappeared. A single specimen which I saw sailing 

 high over the valley was the only one noted during our stay. 



Family COLUMBID2E. Pigeons. 



92. Zenaidura Carolinensis (L.) Bp. Very abundant and one of the 

 characteristic birds of this region. Though never molested by the in- 

 habitants who regard them very much as the English do the robin red- 

 breast, they were very shy and difficult to obtain. Although females 

 containing eggs ready to be laid were dissected as early as May 1st, 

 they almost invariably flew and fed in flocks, but on the latter occasion 

 I noticed that the paired birds usually kept together. Early in the 

 morning and again at sunset the deep resonant cooing of the males 

 might be heard from all sides. At a distance this sound resembles the 

 syllables whoo, whoo, whoo ; or sometimes with only two repetitions whoo, 

 whoo, but a short preliminary note with a rising inflection which always 

 precedes this cooing is lost, unless the listener is very near. The bird 

 when thus employed usually sits on the top of some lofty tree in the 

 forest aud, with his superlatively graceful attitudes and fine plumage 

 glistening in the sunlight, presents a very beautiful appearance. In 

 common with other members of the family they have the peculiar habit 

 of oscillating the head and neck when approached and upon the slightest, 

 suspicious movement on your part they are on" giving three or four pow- 

 erful raps of the tips of the wings under the body, as they start, which 

 warning is usually acted upon immediately by all the others within 

 hearing. 



Family TETRlOmDffi. Grouse, etc. 



93. Boitasa umbellus (L.) Steph. Abundant everywhere in the woods 

 where we started more or less of them every day and frequently heard 

 the drumming of the males. 



94. Ortijx Virginianus (L.) Bp. Apparently not very numerous. The 

 males were first heard whistling bob-white on the 8th of May. 



