The Turkey Buzzard (Cari/iartes aura) in Maine. — While driving at 
Scarboro Beach, Me., on August 5, 190^), my attention was directed to a 
large bird flying over the woods several hundred rards back from the 
road. I at first took it to be an eagle but at second glance the charac- 
teristic sailing of the bird, with tips of wings raised, left no doubt as to 
its identity. The Buzzard crossed the road behind us, circling over the 
salt marshes of the Libby River, and finally recrossed the road directly 
over our carriage and sufficiently near for us to distinctly see the crimson 
head and neck. 
In replying to a letter sent to Mr. Ora' W. Knight for other Maine 
records, he has very kindly given me the following information under date 
of August 9, 1904. 
“Replying to your inquiry relative to the Turkey Buzzard in Maine, I 
will say that I have the following unquestionable records: One taken at 
Standish, Cumberland County, in summer of 1874 (cf. Smith, Forest & 
Stream, Vol. XX, p. 26) ; one taken in Denmark, Oxford Countv, March, 
1882, by Abel Sanborn and now in his possession. (This specimen was 
recorded by R. A. Gushee in Forest & Stream, for 1883, p. 245, and the 
same specimen was erroneously recorded as Black Vulture by Smith, For- 
est & Stream, Vol. XX, p. 285 ; it has, however, been seen within a year 
by a number of persons who can vouch that it is a Turkey Vulture, not a 
Black Vulture). Mr. Boardman had one specimen taken near his home in 
Calais; one was killed in Buxton in December, 1876 (cf. Brorvn, Catalogue 
Birds of Portland, p. 23). 
“All the above records have been carefully verified by inquiry and 
examination of specimens by undoubted authorities. A few other records 
have been found to really refer to the Black Vulture or were not suscepti- 
ble of verification.” 
Mr. Manly Hardy of Brewer, Me., under date of September 8, 1904, 
wrote me as follows : — 
“ Seeing a Turkey Buzzard is a very unusual thing in this State. 
Some years ago 1 saw one at Whitney’s Hill, near Bangor. It was in a 
small ash tree in a large open field. It was late in November, after all 
the Hawks were gone. It was a warm sunny day and he sat with his 
wings stretched above his head just like the one on the ‘Buzzard dollar.’ 
I have seen hundreds of Buzzards but I have never seen any other bird sit 
in this way. I know of two cases of their having been caught in bear- 
traps. The hunters did not know what they were but told me of their 
bare red heads and white bills, so there could be no question of identity.” 
Mr. G. A. Boardman in his ‘ Catalogue of the Birds found in the 
vicinity of Calais, Maine,’ etc., published in 1862, records one specimen 
as referred to by Mr. Knight, but in a copy of this list which he sent me 
in 1872, with additions and corrections up to date, under Turkey Buzzard 
he has interlined, “ 2 since.” This last record therefore makes the tenth 
for the State. — Rutiiven DeauEi, Chicago, III. ^ o i-i a 
Auk. XAH, J tnt ,1905, p . 7 ^ 
A Correction. — In my note on ‘ The Turkey Buzzard in Maine ’ (Auk, 
XXII, p. 78.) I stated that the present record made the tenth for the State. 
I included two specimens which Mr. Boardman added to a revised list 
which he sent me in 1873. Mr. Ora W. Knight has called my attention 
to the fact that the title of Mr. Boardman’s list ‘ Catalogue of the Birds 
found in the vicinity of Calais, Maine,’ admits a number of records for 
the vicinity but over the State line, and that Mr. Boardman had informed 
him by letter that the two buzzards in question were records for New 
Brunswick. This fact reduces the legitimate number for the State to 
eight. — Ruthven Deane, Chicago, III. 
Auk, XXU, Apr.. 1905, p - 
