General Notes. 147 



lection of the Boston Society of Natural History by Mr. F. I. C. Swift of 

 Falmouth, Mass., is an adult male specimen of the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. 

 This is the second record of its occurrence, the first specimen having been 

 taken at Chatham, November, 1877 (Nutt. Bull., Ill, p. 45). It appears, 

 by the letter of Mr. Swift, that his specimen was taken in the same part 

 of the State one month later. In answer to my letter of inquiry, Mr. Swift 

 writes : " I shot it on the 18th day of December last, in a line of low 

 bushes skirting a fresh-water pond (in Falmouth) which separated the 

 same from an old field thickly studded with pines of several varieties and 

 about ten yeaiV growth. The locality was in a southern exposure, and I 

 think there was no ice at that time on the pond." — T. M. Brewer, Bos- 

 ton, Mass. 



The Ground Dove (Cliavirepekia passerina) in New York. — In the 

 month of October, 1862, while shooting Robins and Golden-winged Wood- 

 y)eckers near 158th Street and 12th Avenue, New York City, I killed a 

 bird of this species. It was one of a flock of seven which were sitting in 

 a tall tulip-tree near the road. At that time, being but a young boy, the 

 only interest attaching to the specimen arose from the fact that it was the 

 first " Pigeon " that I had. ever shot, but as I was somewhat familiar with 

 the plates of Audubon's Birds of America (the original edition, folio) I 

 recognized the bird as one that I had seen, and, on comparison with the 

 plate (CLXXXII), I decided that it was a young Ground Dove. I subse- 

 quently took the specimen to the late John Woodhouse Audubon, who, 

 after examination, confirmed my previous conclusion, and told me that it 

 was a southern bird which he had never seen so far north before. The 

 specimen was not preserved, nor can I give, more exactly than I have 

 already done, the date of its capture. — George Bird Grinnell, New 

 Haven, Ct. 



Swallow- tailed Kite in Dakota in Winter. — lam informed by 

 my valued correspondent. Dr. C. E. McChesney, U. S. A., of the occurrence of 

 Elanoides forficatus at Fort Sisseton, Dakota, during nearly the whole of 

 last winter. The Indians also informed Dr. McChesney of the residence 

 of the bird along the James River in the winter and early spring months, 

 and of its giving them some trouble by springing their traps, occasionally, 

 however, getting caught itself. This account tallies with Trippe's Minne- 

 sota record (north of Mille Lac, lat. 47°). While at Pembina, Dakota, 

 lat. 49°, I was assured by an officer of the occasional appearance of the 

 bird there. — Elliott Coues, Washington, D. C. 



Apologetic. — I sincerely regret that my hasty and inaccurate reference 

 to Mr. N. C. Brown's brief mention of the occurrence, near Portland, of 

 the Sharp-tailed Finch should have given to that gentleman even a mo- 

 ment's annoyance. Nothing could have been farther from my intention 

 than to " misquote " him. Indeed, had I quoted him the mistake could 



