Vol.1918 XXXV] I GeneralNotes. 77

Accordinglyhe saved only the head and right wing, and on January 8 broughtthem to the writer at Floyd'sIsland in OkefinokeeSwamp. These parts, which were preserved for the U.S. Biological Survey collection, readily establishthe identity of the bird as Melopelia asiatica asiatica. This constitutesapparently the first recordof the speciesin Georgia.-- FaAmc•sHAaPEa, Washington, D.C.

The Harpy Eagle in Colorado.-- In November,1902, the followingskit appearedin one of the Denver daily papers (probablythe Republican). "First Harpy eagle found in Colorado- Owner will make his the Only Mounted SpecimenKnown in United States. Pueblo, Colo., Nov. 29.-- (Special). What is thought is the first specimenof the Harpy Eagle ever met with in Colorado has been sent to Capt. W. F. Dortenbach of this city by George H. Cress of Lees, Colo. It measures7 feet, 11 inches, from tip to tip, and 42 inches, from beak to tail. It weighs 30 pounds. 'The bird is of a speciesexceedingly rare. So far as is known there are no mounted specimensin the country. The Smithsonian institute at Washington has several skins. The captain will at once mount the speci- men, and will communicatewith the leadingornithologists of the country." The undersignedsent a letter to Capt. Dortenbach, asking for further data concerningthis newspapernote and receivedthe followingreply:--

"Pueblo, Colo., Feb. 9. 1903. Dr. W. H. Bergtold, 624 14th St., Denver.

Dear Sir:

Your favor of Feb. 2nd to hand. The Eagle of which you saw a note in the paperssome time agois still in my possession.Its identificationwas by myselfbut I only have CouesKey to North AmericanBirds and as it is quite old it may be somewhatfaulty. We are still workingat the identi- fication of the specimenand if it should prove to be a harpy eagle I will give you all the necessarydata when I make my report to the Society. Thanking you for the inquiry and trusting that I may be able to meet you when I visit Denver again. Very respectfully yours, (signed) W. F. Dortenbaeh."

During the succeedingfourteen years this matter returnedto the writer's mind several times, but, never having receivedfurther word from Capt. Dortenbaeh (which his letter promisedin casethe specimenshould prove to be a harpy eagle), it was concludedthat, on careful further study at Pueblo, it had been found that the bird was not a harpy eagle. It was a matter of much surprise to the writer to find this old news- 78 GeneralNotes. LJan.[Auk paper recordresurrected recently, and usedto erect a record for this species in ColoradoJ This list by Lowe placesin scientificornithological literature a record of a bird which has hitherto not been observedin the United States, and one of (probable)great rarity even in Mexico, and is a recordbased on data which seem rather .dubious,and cloudedby uncertainty. The writer's interest in Coloradoornithology impelled him to sendtwo other letters of inquiry to Capt. Dortenbach but they remain unanswered up to the presentmoment (December4, 1917). The abovefacts are published,not only to add to the completenessof this allegedrecord, but to exhibit the ground on which the writer personally feels warranted in rejecting this record, and in advising his ornithological confreresto do likewise.-- W. H. BERGTO•.•),Denver, Colo.

The Happy Eagle in Colorado.--An interesting example of the great care necessaryin placing occurrencesof rare specieson perma- nent record, is containedin 'The Auk' for October, 1917. In a paper appearingin this issueby Mr. WilloughbyP. Lowe,entitled ' Remarkson ColoradoBirds,' is a recordfor the Harpy Eagle, Thrasaiftusharpyia, which, if valid, wouldnot only be new for the Coloradolist, but in all probability would constitute the only record for North America. The occurrence is basedon a specimen"shot by Geo. Cressof Lees,Pueblo Co., someyears ago and preservedby (W. F.) Doertenbach of Pueblo". Immediatelyupon noting the above,I wrote to Mr. Doertenbach,who had previouslyafforded me considerableassistance in clearing up other recordscredited to Colorado,asking for a statementregarding the specimen and for the addressof Mr. Cress. An interestingcorrespondence ensued which,through the courtesyof Mr. Doertenbach,I am permittedto use, togetherwith a photographof the mountedspecimen, still in the possession of Mr. Cress,now of CarsonCity, Nevada. In replying to my original inquiry, Mr. Doertenbachwrote in part, as follows:--"....the specimen .... we think is a Harpy Eagle.... [and I]... will... sendyou a photo of the mo•mted specimen. The bird was not mounted with the ruff about the head spreadso it will not resemblethe specimensin the National Museum collections. Also the specimenwas larger than the one displayedin that collectionand the feathersabout the head were not so grey.... Thebird !n questionmay not havebeen a Harpybut it is distinctlydifferent from any othereagle that I have ever handled". From the photographsent with the aboveit was at onceapparent that the bird was not a Harpy but was an immatureBald Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus,which is, however,rare in Colorado. The peculiarplnmage of the yo•mgof the latter speciesevidently caused the confusion. I there• uponhad the photographof the Harpy Eaglein Mr. C. W. Beebe'sbook

Remarkson ColoradoBirds. WilloughbyP. Lowe. Auk, October,1917, p. 454.