NUTTALL ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 3 



actual comparison with like skins, that it was identical with the 

 Buteo vulgaris of Europe. Supposing that Mr. Allen had quite 

 probably received it from abroad the matter rested here ; but as 

 there was still some uncertainty as to whether it was that spe- 

 cies, on account of my not having compared it with typical 

 specimens, the question would arise in my mind every time 

 I saw the skin. 



Various ornithological friends examined the specimen and 

 expressed some opinion about it, yet all were inclined to be- 

 lieve that it was a European bird, while I never gave the time 

 necessary for settling the matter by writing Mr. Allen. Thus 

 the skin had been lying in ray collection until the past autumn, 

 when at the request of Mr. Brewster I showed it to our mutual 

 friend, Mr. Henry Heushaw, who urged me to let him take it to 

 Washington, that it might be examined by Mr. Rob't Ridgway. 



Shortly after this Mr. Henshaw informed me, per letter, that 

 it was indeed Bateo vulgaris, but that there was a decided im- 

 probability that it was taken on this side of the Atlantic. Cu- 

 rious to know its history I wrote to Mr. Allen, asking him if 

 he remembered the specimen, and if he could tell me where 

 it was taken. 



The reply was quite unexpected, for Mr. Allen stated that he 

 remembered the bird well, and as there were peculiar circum- 

 stances connected with its capture he recollected clearly that it 

 was shot in Michigan. I then wrote again, giving him for the first 

 time an account of the interest which was attached to the capture 

 of this species in the United States, and begged him to relate 

 all he knew about it. To this epistle I received the following 

 reply. As Mr. Allen's account is not only interesting but im- 

 portant as proving beyond the shadow of a doubt that the bird 

 in question was actually taken in Michigan, I give his letter 

 verbatim. I will, however, preface it by saying that all the oth- 

 er Hawks sent to me by Mr. Allen were correctly labeled" Red- 

 tailed," " Red-shouldered," etc., but this bore the simple legend 

 44 Hawk." This fact, together with its extremely peculiar plu- 

 mage, rendered it easy for him to remember what particular 

 skin was under consideration. 



"Paw Paw, Mich., Jan. 16, 1876. 



Mr. Maynarv) — . , „ 



Dear Sir:— Yours at hand and noted. 1 am surprised as well as 

 pleased to learn that the Hawk proves to be so valuable and interest- 

 ing a specimen. When I shot it I was unable to decide what it was, 



