122 
General Notes. 
(mostly by myself), and have never seen another aberrant specimen. 
Therefore, I estimate that of every two hundred specimens occurring in 
that part of the country, about one hundred and ninety-nine would be true 
auratus .] 
4. Picus pubescens. “Little Sapsucker”; “Little Guinea 
W OODPECKER. ” 
5. Picus villosus. “Big Sapsucker” ; “Big Guinea Woodpecker.” 
6. Hylotomus pileatus. “Woodcock”; “Black Woodcock” ; “Log- 
cock.” In some localities ranks as fourth or fifth in abundance. 
7. Sphyropicus varius. “ Sapsucker.” Rarely distinguished by 
the people, but sometimes, from its note, called “Squealing Sapsucker.” 
This species is unknown in summer, and is the only one of the family 
that is regularly migratory. — Robert Ridgway, Washington, D. C. 
Breeding of the Wild Pigeon in confinement. — Seeing Mr. 
Deane’s note in the last number of the Bulletin, I forward my expe- 
rience, thinking it may prove of interest. During the spring of 1877, 
the Society purchased three pairs of trapped birds, which were placed 
in one of the outer aviaries. Early in March, 1878, I noticed that they 
were mating, and procuring some twigs, I wove three rough platforms and 
fastened them up in convenient places; at the same time throwing a 
further supply of building material on the floor. Within twenty-four 
hours two of the platforms were selected ; the male carrying the material 
whilst the female busied herself in placing it. A single egg was soon laid 
in each nest and incubation commenced. On March 16 there was quite a 
heavy fall of snow, and on the next morning I was unable to see the birds 
on their nests on account Of the accumulation of the snow piled on the 
platforms around them. Within a couple of days it had all disappeared and 
for the next four or five nights a self-registering thermometer, hanging in 
the aviary, marked from 14 0 to 19 0 . In spite of these drawbacks both of 
the eggs were hatched and the young ones reared. They have since con- 
tinued breeding regularly and now I have twenty birds ; having lost one 
old male and several eggs, from falling through their illy-contrived 
nests. — Frank J. Thompson, Zoological Garden , Cincinnati , O. 
Large Eagles. — An immense adult Bald Eagle ( Haliaetus lucocefha- 
lus) was lately sent from North Carolina to Mr. Newlon Dexter of this 
city, the spread of whose wings measured 8 feet. It is well known that 
the young Bald Eagle is larger than the adult, and Mr. Dexter and myself 
were discussing that point only a few days previously while examining a 
large Golden Eagle which had been sent in to me to mount. 
I bought in November last a young female Bald Eagle, shot in New 
Shoreham. which measured 7 feet 3 inches, the greatest spread of wing of 
any I ever had. Mr. Dexter has killed dozens of Eagles and says this is 
the largest he ever saw. — Frederic T. Jencks, Providence , R. /. 
Eagles attempting the rescue of a wounded companion. — Hav- 
ing noticed a number of times mention of the fact that Gulls and other 
