330 General Notes. \^^ 



GENERAL NOTES. 



Antrostomus carolinensis Devouring other Birds. — Dr. W. L. Abbott 

 recently presented a specimen of Chiick-wilFs-widow to the Philadelphia 

 Academy, which he secured on shipboard off Sagua, Cuba, Sept. 4, 1S98, 

 and which contained in its stomach a partially digested Yellow Warbler 

 {De?idroica (estiva). Dr. Abbott stated that quite a number of small 

 Warblers had been flying about the ship for several days and probably the 

 Antrostomus was hard pressed and devoured one of them in lieu of his 

 usual food. Such records seem to be uncommon' and worthy of note. — 

 WiTMER Stone, Academy of Natural Sci'efices, Philadelfhia, Pa. 



Tyrannus magnirostris d'Orb. Renamed. — The name Tyranmis 7nag7ii- 

 rostris, given by d'Orbigny to the Cuban Kingbird in 1S39, is antedated 

 by Swainson (Fauna Boreali-Americana, 1S31, 4S4), who, for some reason 

 best known to himself, applied this name to Megarkyftckus fitangtia 

 (Linn.), a common bird of the mainland of tropical America. A new 

 name thus being necessary for d'Orbigny's species, it may be called 

 Tyrantius ctcbefists. — Charles W. Richmond, U. S. National Museum., 

 Washington, D. C. 



Nest Building under Difficulties. — While visiting a farmer living in 

 Bucks County, Pa., I was shown a nest of a Field Sparrow {Spizella 

 fusilla)^ which he accidently cut down while cradling rye. The nest, 

 which contained fresh eggs, was built about two feet above the ground and 

 was supported between the standing stalks of the rye. The bird evidently 

 experienced some difficult}- in starting the structure, as the material kept 

 sliding down loosely on the smooth stalks as fast as it was built. The 

 bird, however, was determined to build it at the original height, which 

 was finally accomplished, and when completed was about one foot deep, 

 having a loose spiral appearance. This was no doubt the result of poor 

 judgment, which is often seen among juvenile birds. — J. Harris Reed, 

 Beverly, N. J. 



Hemithraupis: — A Correction. — In my paper describing new genera, 

 etc., of Fringillidte and Tanagridse in the July Auk, I inadvertentl}' gave 

 the generic name Hemithraufis to a genus of Tanagers, with Aglaia 

 cyanocefhala Lafr. & D'Orb. as type, forgetting at the time that the 

 sarne name had been given by Cabanis in 185 1 to the group having 

 Hylofhilus ruficefs Max. as type (c/. Mus. Hein. I, p. 21); a strange 

 oversight, since I have of course been long aware of the fact and have the 

 genus elaborate under that name in my manuscript. The genus which I 

 have separated as Hemithraupis Avith Aglaia cyanocephala as type requir- 



