1875.] 351 [Nelson. 



were abundant, we rarely saw them flying during the middle of the 

 day except when scared from their resting places. Here they could 

 be seen in large numbers during the middle of the day flying over the 

 meadows in pursuit of insects. They were so unsuspicious that they 

 often passed within a few feet while I was watching them. While 

 flying they kept their mouths open, and when flying very rapidly it 

 produced a low booming sound. 



ALCEDINIME. 



20. Ceryle alcyon Boie. Kingfisher. Common. I did not 

 hear it utter the peculiar rattling cry so characteristic of it at the 

 East. While returning home the first of January, 1873, the Humboldt 

 was frozen over except a few air holes, and the ground was covered 

 with snow. Over one of these holes near Elko we saw a solitary 

 kingfisher perched on a dead branch watching for its prey. 



CATHARTID^. 



21. Cathartes aura Illig. Turkey Buzzard. A flock of about 

 twenty of these buzzards were soaring over the meadows every day, 

 but were too shy to get a shot at. 



COLUMBIDJE. 



22. Zenaedura carolinensis Bonap. Common Dove. Abun- 

 dant. Frequented the railroad track for the grain scattered there. 



TETRAONIDtE. 



23. Centrocercus urophasianus Sw. Sage Hen. We saw 

 their tracks on the road east of Elko, but did not see the birds. 



CHABADRIIDiE. 



24. iEgialitis vociferus Cassin. Killdeer. Not common. 



SCOLOPACID^E. 



25. Tringa Bairdii Coues. Several flocks seen on the small 

 sandbars along the river. One specimen obtained. 



26. Totanus melanoleucus Gm. Yellow-legs. A few seen 

 and one specimen shot along the river. 



27. Totanus solitarius Wils. Solitary Sandpiper. Com- 

 mon. Found the young about half grown. Frequented the sloughs 



