Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus). — On March 17, 1897, one of these 
birds was found, dead, on the sandy shore of Ketch Harbour, near 
Halifax. I examined the bird before it was skinned. Death had evi- 
dently been largely caused by starvation, as the body was very thin. 
The occurrence of this European bird upon our coast is most remark- 
able. It is perhaps doubtful if there is another well-authenticated record 
of the capture of the bird in temperate America, for Mr. Ridgway queries 
“Long Island” in the list of localities given in his ‘Manual.’ There 
cannot be the slightest doubt about the identification of the present 
specimen. 
Auk, XV, April, 1898 , pjo. 
T 
Occurrence of the Lapwing ( Vanellus vanellu s ) and the Turkey 
Buzzard ( Cathartes aura) in Newfoundland. — Dr. R. R. McLeod of 
Brookfield, Nova Scotia, has been kind enough to place at my disposal 
some brief notes relating to the recent capture in Newfoundland of a Lap- 
wing (' Vanellus vanellus) and a Turkey Buzzard ( Cathartes aura). The 
data just mentioned consist (1) of extracts copied by Dr. McLeod from a 
manuscript letter addressed to him by “the Editor of the St. Johns [New- 
foundland] ‘Evening Herald,’ Mr. Forneaux”; (2) of a newspaper clipping 
bearing neither title nor date, but with the letters “J. E. F.” inscribed in 
pencil on the margin; (3) of a printed letter signed and dated “James P. 
Howley, November 27, 1905.” As the “ J. E. F.” clipping contains several 
sentences closely similar in expression, as well as thought to some of those 
in the letter written to Dr. McLeod, I assume that the initials just quoted 
represent the name J. E. Forneaux and that the account to which they are 
appended was written by him for the St. Johns ‘Herald.’ The letter by 
Mr. Howley is printed on paper of a different quality and color. It was 
apparently taken from some daily newspaper and, no doubt, from one 
also published in Newfoundland. 
Mr. Forneaux writes to Dr. McLeod that ‘“the wanton lapwing’ was 
. shot on the 23d of November, 1905, and the Buzzard a few weeks before. 
I handled the lapwing and it was in excellent condition, being quite plump 
and its beautiful plumage scarcely ruffled. It was killed about a mile 
inland from the sea-shore, making its way south, just outside the city 
limits. Does it not seem the ‘ irony of Fate’ that the brave little traveller 
that had come so far through storm and tempest should fly right over a 
man behind a gun and fall a victim to his unerring aim. He was probably 
the only hunter in a vicinity that covers many miles of country. Both 
birds will be mounted and placed in the museum in charge of Mr. J. P. 
Howley.” In his newspaper account “J. E. F.” says that the locality 
where the Lapwing was killed is “in the vicinity of the White Hills.” 
Mr. Howley states that the Turkey Buzzard “was shot by Mr. Jocelyn 
near Renews, not far from the whale factory at Aquaforte.” “Can it be 
possible,” he asks, “that it has been attracted by the whale offal floating 
southward on the bosom of the Arctic current, and has it followed up the 
scent to locate the origin thereof?” The Lapwing, he says, was “sub- 
mitted to me by Mr. Wm. Clapp, M. H. A., who shot it near Quidi Vidi.” 
Mr. Howley thinks it “almost impossible that this bird could have come 
direct across the Atlantic from its European home” and he is “inclined 
to believe it may have been up somewhere in Greenland or Iceland,” and 
“been driven westward by the prevalence of strong gales of easterly and 
northeast winds.” William Brewster, Cambridge , Mass. 
Mlk, XXlll, Apr. , 1806, p. 
