236 ScientifiG Proceedings, ttoyal Dublin Society. 



BuTEO SWAINSONI, Bonap. Swainson's Haw/f.— This species, 

 which is quite as unsuspicious as the preceding, is common on 

 the prairie during the fall. They feed upon grasshoppers, and 

 though often soaring in wide gyrations at a great height, may 

 generally be seen perched on" a low tree, a stump, or even the 

 ground. 



BuTEO PENNSYLVANicus (Wils.) Broacl-wingcd Hawk — A 

 winter visitor to the open districts in small numbers. It is ex- 

 cessively watchful and suspicious, so much so that it was only 

 on one occasion that I managed to get within range of a specimen. 

 Cathaetes aura (Linn.) Turkey Buzzard. — Resident and 

 numerous in our district, but more abundant upon the prairie than 

 in the wooded districts, where its place is in great part taken by 

 0. atrata. At all hours of the day they may be seen soaring, 

 often at such enormous heights as to appear but a speck in the 

 sky, yet from this elevation its extraordinary range of vision 

 enables it to distinguish any dead or dying animal upon which it 

 immediately descends in wide gyrations. When ascending also 

 it rises to the required height in ever increasing spirals, after 

 which it soars in huge circles with motionless wings The indi- 

 gestible portions of their food, such as hair and fur, are rejected in 

 round pellets. Common as they are, I was unable to find a nest 

 of these vultures, but several informants have told me that they 

 lay their eggs upon the ground beside a fallen tree, or upon ledges 

 of the steep banks of creeks. 



Catharista atrata (Wils.) Black Vulture. — Abundant in all 

 the wooded districts, and especially frequenting the neighbourhood 

 of towns and villages, near which it may be seen at all times seated 

 on the trees and fences, and where its utility in clearing off" all dead 

 animal matter, which by its rapid decomposition might otherwise 

 engender sickness, is recognised by its immunity from harm. 



Zenaidura carolinensis (Linn.) Mourning Dove. — Though 

 individually migrator}^, these beautiful doves are exceedingly 

 numerous at all seasons,and in all localities,the open prairie and the 

 dense timber being haunted alike. They are useful in the neighbour- 

 hood of farms from the enormous amount of seeds of the sunflower, 

 knot-grass and other weeds which they consume. Their nest, a 

 very simple afiair formed of a few crossed twigs, is placed in various 



