112 



last Turkey Buzzard was seeu October 3 ; at Grinnell, Iowa, Novem- 

 ber 4, and at Fayette, Mo., October 28. 



326. Catharista atrata (Bartr.). [455.] Black Vulture ; Carrion Crow. 



This short- winged cousin of the Turkey Buzzard is his constant com- 

 panion in the Southern States, but is left far behind in the vernal race 

 for the frigid zone. The Carrion Crow is content to remain in or near 

 his winter home and become common scavenger all the year round. He 

 is scarcely migratory, his movements being wanderings rather than 

 migrations. As in the case of the Turkey Buzzard, he shuns San An- 

 gelo during the winter, though he returned there March 19, 1884. Up 

 the Mississippi Valley he is found resident as far north as southern Illi- 

 nois, and has been taken once in Ohio. He has been seen twice in 

 southern Kansas and once nested there. At Ellis, in western Kansas, 

 Dr. Watson captured one March 27, 1885, the only record for that 

 locality. From latitude 36° to 38° he has the mixed character of both 

 resident and summer resident, remaining in some places the whole year 

 and appearing at others in the summer ouly. 



327. Elanoides forficatus (Linn.). [426.] Swallow-tailed Kite. 



This beautiful and graceful species breeds sparingly throughout the 

 Mississippi Valley from the Gulf of Mexico to Minnesota and Dakota, 

 but is most abundant in the Southern States. It winters in Central 

 and South America, but Mr. Bibbins recorded it as a rare winter vis- 

 itant at Mermen ton, La., and Major Young mentioned it as a winter 

 bird at Waverly, Miss. A most extraordinary winter record is that 

 given in the Bull. ETutfc. Ornith. Club (Vol. Ill, 1878 p. 147), where the 

 species is said to be found in winter and early spring on the James 

 river, in southeastern Dakota. Again, November 14, 1881, Mr. D. H. 

 Talbot saw several a short distance west of Jamestown, Dak., and three 

 days later, about midway between Jamestown and Bismarck, he saw 

 fifty or more in a flock (Bull. Nntt Ornith. Club, Vol. VII, 1882, p, 59). 

 It is incomprehensible how a bird which so constantly shuns cold 

 weather could stand the terrible winters of southern Dakota. It is 

 safe to say that none were within the limits of Dakota in January, 1884. 



In the spring of 1884 I observed it at Caddo, Ind. Ter., April 1, 

 and then^ changing my residence to Eed Eock, in the northern part of 

 the Territory, I again noted its arrival April 12. At Fayette, Mo., it 

 was seen May 9, and at Iowa City, Iowa, May 13. It is in the Missis- 

 sippi Valley that the species finds its most northern range. In Min- 

 nesota it has been traced to Eed Lake (latitude 48° 30'), and in Dakota, 

 to Pembina (latitude 49°). Eecently it has been recorded from Mani- 

 toba (The Auk, Vol. Ill, 1886, p. 328). 



In the spring of 1885 the Swallow-tailed Kite reached Elk Eiver, 

 Minn., May 4. In the fall of 1885 the first arrival was recorded from 

 Grinnell, Iowa, September 16. It was last seen at Saint Louis, Mo., 

 August 20. Dr. Agersborg states that a few spend the summer at Ver- 

 million, Dak. 



