92 
General Notes. 
(general Bated. 
Habits of the Kingfisher ( Ceryle alcyon). — The following observa- 
tions are communicated by Mrs. Mary Treat, Green Cove Spring, Florida : 
“ A Kingfisher whose feeding-ground is just in front of my windows fishes 
from & private wharf, where he is seldom disturbed, and has become so 
tame that he pursues his avocations without concern, though I may be 
standing within a few feet of him. I learned that he ejects from the 
mouth the' bones, scales, or other indigestible portions of his food, just 
like a bird of prey. When the water is so rough that it is difficult 
for him to procure fish, instead of seeking some sequestered pool he 
remains at his usual post, occasionally making an ineffectual effort to se- 
cure his customary prey, until, nearly starved, he resorts to a sour-gum 
tree ( Nyssa aquatica, L.) in the vicinity, and greedily devours the berries. 
Returning to his post, he soon ejects a pellet of the large seeds and skins 
of the fruit. I have saved some of these pellets, as well as those composed 
of fish-bones and scales.” The remains of fish which are found in the 
bird’s breeding-holes, giving rise to a very general impression that the nest 
is constructed of these materials, are probably deposited in this way. The 
interesting instance of the bird’s feeding on fruit brings out the relation- 
ship between the truly piscivorous species and certain exotic non-aquatic 
representatives of the family. — Elliott Coues, W ashinyton , D. G . 
The Painted Lark Bunting ( Plectroplianes pieties ) in Texas. — 
On November 23, 1876, I saw a flock of Plectroplianes, which I thought 
were different from either P. maccowni or P. ornatus, and. shot one, 
which proved to be different. On December 20 I shot another, and 
on December 22 three others. One of these, being sent to Mr. Robert 
Ridgwav, of the Smithsonian Institution, he has kindly identified it for 
me as Plectroplianes pictus, and states - that this is its first record south 
of Illinois. They are less easily taken than P. maccowni , as they do 
not fly so compactly as does that species. Their note while on the wing 
is a simple chirp, while the flocks of P. maccowni keep up constant chat- 
ter while on the wing. Whether P. qiictus is an accidental or a regular 
winter visitor to Texas, I am unable to state. They were quite plentiful 
here last winter (1876-77), but may have been driven farther south than 
usual by the uncommonly cold weather, which had driven away the Robins, 
Harris’s Sparrow, and even Plectroplianes ornatus , all of which were abun- 
dant the previous winter. — G. H. Ragsdale, Gainesville, Texas. 
Notes on a few Birds observed in New Mexico and Arizona in 
1876. — 1. Turdus migratorius. Winters abundantly in New Mexico ; 
a few summer in the high mountains. 
