General Notes. 
147 
lection of the Boston Society of Natural History by Mr. F. I. C. Swift of 
Falmouth, Mass., is an adult male specimen of the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. 
This is the second record of its occurrence, the first specimen having been 
taken at Chatham, November, 1877 (Nutt. Bull., Ill, p. 45). It appears, 
by the letter of Mr. Swift, that his specimen was taken in the same part 
of the State' one month later. In answer to my letter of inquiry, Mr. Swift 
writes : “ I shot it on the 18th day of December last, in a line of low 
bushes skirting a fresh- water pond (in Falmouth) which separated the 
same from an old field thickly studded with pines of several varieties and 
about ten years’ growth. The locality was in a southern exposure, and I 
think there was no ice at that time on the pond.” — T. M. Brewer, Bos- 
ton, Mass. 
The Ground Dove ( Chamcepeleia passerina ) in New York. — In the 
month of October, 1862, while shooting Robins and Golden-winged Wood- 
peckers near 158th Street and 12th Avenue, New York City, I killed a 
bird of this species. It was one of a flock of seven which were sitting in 
a tall tulip-tree near the road. At that time, being but a young boy, the 
only interest attaching to the specimen arose from the fact that it was the 
first “ Pigeon ” that I had ever shot, but as I was somewhat familiar with 
the plates of Audubon’s Birds of America (the original edition, folio) I 
recognized the bird as one that I had seen, and, on comparison with the 
plate (CLXXXII), I decided that it was a young Ground Dove. I subse- 
quently took the specimen to the late John Woodhouse Audubon, who, 
after examination, confirmed my previous conclusion, and told me that it 
was a southern bird which he had never seen so far north before. The 
specimen was not preserved, nor can* I give, more exactly than I have 
already done, the date of its capture. — George Bird Grinnell, New 
Haven, Ct. 
Swallow-tailed Kite in Dakota in Winter. — lam informed by 
my valued correspondent, Dr. C. E. McChesney, U. S. A., of the occurrence of 
Elanoides forficatus at Fort Sisseton, Dakota, during nearly the whole of 
last winter. The Indians also informed Dr. Me Chesney of the residence 
of the bird along the James River in the winter and early spring months, 
and of its giving them some trouble by springing their traps, occasionally, 
however, getting caught itself. This account tallies with Trippe’s Minne- 
sota record (north of Mille Lac, lat. 47°). While at Pembina, Dakota, 
lat. 49°, I was assured by an officer of the occasional appearance of the 
bird there. — Elliott Coues, Washington, D. G. 
Apologetic. — I sincerely regret that my hasty and inaccurate reference 
to Mr. N. C. Brown’s brief mention of the occurrence, near Portland, of 
the Sharp-tailed Finch should have given to that gentleman even a mo- 
ment’s annoyance. Nothing could have been farther from my intention 
than to “ misquote ” him. Indeed, had I quoted him the mistake could 
