110 



Des Moines, Iowa, October 24. Tliey began to flock at Shawneetown, 

 111., August 20. 



318. Engyptila albifrons (Bonap.). [463.] White-fronted Dove. 



This Mexican species comes north in summer as far as the Lower Rio 

 Grande valley in Texas, where it is not an uncommon breeder (Sennett 

 and Merrill). 



319. Melopelia leucoptera (Linn.). [464.] White-winged Dove. 



This tropical American Dove comes north regularly as far as south- 

 ern Texas, where it breeds abundantly. It was reported as a summer 

 resident at Eagle Pass. 



320. Columbigallina passerina (Linn.). [465.] Ground Dove. 



Like the last, this Dove was reported from Eagle Pass only ; but it 

 ranges during the summer through most of the Southern States south 

 of latitude 32°, being most common near the coast ; a straggler was once 

 taken at Locke, Mich. 



321. Scardafella inca (Less.). [466.] Inca Dove. 



A Mexican species, coming north to southern Texas. At Laredo, 

 Tex., it is abundant. (Dr. H. B. Butcher, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 

 Yol. XX, 1868, p. 150.) 



325. Cathartes aura (Linn.). [454.] Turkey Buzzard; Turkey Vulture. 



An abundant breeder throughout most of the Mississippi Valley. 

 Ordinarily it winters from about latitude 39° southward, though it was 

 reported by Dr. Agersborg as usually resident at Vermillion, Dak., 

 latitude 42° 56'. A short distance south of latitude 39° it is an abun- 

 dant resident. Dr. Watson saw it at Ellis, Kans., during the warm 

 intervals in the winter of 1883-84. At Caddo, Ind. Ter., it was a 

 most abundant winter as well as summer resident, and yet so great 

 was the mortality among the cattle, that all the Buzzards and Carrion 

 Crows together could not rid the prairies of their carcasses. In the 

 fall and early winter, when cattle feed was good and dead animals were 

 few, these two species had hard work to get a living. They could be 

 seen sailing overhead in great flocks watching for food, or sitting in long 

 lines on the fences. An animal killed in the morning would be picked 

 clean by night, and there was great quarreling and fighting over the 

 carcass. After the snows and freezing rains came cattle began to die 

 by the hundred, and before spring more than 15,000 died within 30 

 miles of Caddo. Then scarcely a Buzzard was ever seen in the air. 

 They became so particular that they would not touch a carcass on the 

 prairie, but selecting those that had fallen in or near timber, would 

 gorge themselves, fly heavily to the nearest tree, and stay there until 

 there was room in their bodies for more of their disgusting food. All 

 Texas observers except Mr. Lloyd record the Turkey Buzzard as a 

 winter resident Mr. Lloyd states that it never winters in Tom Green 



