1914] Grinnell: Mammals and Birds of II, < Colorado Valley 123 



Melopelia asiatica trudeaui (Audubon) 



White-winged Dove 



First noted on the California side at Potholes, where, on April 29, 

 one was heard in a willow thicket and finally secured (no. 12684, J 1 ). 

 At our station on the California side, five miles northeast of Yuma, 

 the species was common. The hoarse note, so characteristic of this 

 dove, was to be heard at almost any hour of the day from the dense 

 woods close to the river. As many as three were heard at one time 

 from as many directions. Careful stalking usually resulted in discov- 

 ering the performer among the uppermost branches, usually dead ones, 

 of the largest Cottonwood in the vicinity, surrounded by dense living 

 willow and cottonwood timber. The crop of one shot here May 5 

 (no. 12685, J 1 ) contained thirty-three watermelon seeds and one musk- 

 melon seed. In the bottom lands on both sides of the river in the 

 vicinity of Pilot Knob white-winged doves were common. One was 

 taken on the California side May 12 (no. 12686, $). This species is 

 here a strict adherent to the willow association. 



Cathartes aura septentrionalis Wied 



Turkey Vulture 



First seen, near Mellen, February 25 ; thenceforth of daily note 

 everywhere we went, both in the river bottom and far out over the 

 desert. Last observed May 13 at Pilot Knob. We were continually 

 bothered in our mammal trapping by these birds. Wherever meat 

 bait was used and the steel traps left out during the day unsprung, 

 no matter how far back under thick bushes these were placed, and so 

 concealing the setting from view, the turkey buzzards were almost 

 certain to get caught. Fully two dozen were thus captured, and. being 

 seldom severely injured, were usually released. One, no. 12687. was 

 saved as a skin, and two more, nos. 12712, 12713, as skeletons. Another 

 specimen in the Museum, a skin (no. 5937), was taken probably by 

 W. W. Holder at "Mineral City" (=Ehrenberg) , March 10. 1864. 



Circus hudsonius (Linnaeus) 

 Marsh Hawk- 

 February 23 an adult was seen on the Arizona side and an immature 

 on the California side, both between Needles and Mellen. April 2 a 

 marsh hawk flew north along the California side opposite Cibola. 



