On April 20th, soon after reaching Hidalgo, I was directed up the river some four miles by road, and there shot the first three specimens of this new species. On May 3d, another was shot among the mezquite timber of the old resaea, within a mile of town. On May 8th, another was shot in a dense forest about half a mile from where the first three were obtained. Several more were seen; in fact, they were more abundant than any other Warbler. It was a constant surprise to me while on the Rio Grande that so few Warblers were to be seen. I had depended on getting a large number of species, and was constantly on the lookout for them, daily frequenting places where I expected to find them. All of the specimens obtained are males, and I remember of seeing none in pairs. They were seen usually in little groups of three or four. They are by no means shy, but frequenting, as they do, the woods, cannot be readily seen. Dr. Merrill writes me from Fort Brown that in July he found the nest and three young of what he supposed at the time to be Parula americana, but which may prove to belong to this species. I have little doubt that another season will bring to our knowledge full accounts of the breeding habits of this beautiful new Warbler. I have just received from Dr. Merrill, Fort Brown, a description of the nest found in July: "My nest of Parula was taken July 5th, about five miles from here. It was placed in a small thin bunch of hanging moss, about ten feet from the ground, in a thicket; was simply hollowed out of the moss, of which it was entirely composed, with the exception of three or four horsehairs; entrance on side; contained three young about half-fledged. Parents very bold, but thinking they were americana I did not shoot them." HELMINTHOPHAGA RUFICAPILLA, (Wils.) Bd.-Nashville Warbler. 395-4.50 x 6.87 x 2.00 x 1.63. May 8, Hidalgo. HELMINTHOPHAGA CELATA, (Say) Bd.-Orange-crowned Warbler. Only one specimen shot, and we were unable to save it on account of the great heat. Measurements taken and sex examined. The bird was shot in undergrowth, near a lagoon. 110— ♂ —4.75 x 7.50 x 2.50 x 2.12. Mar. 29, Brownsville. DENDROCA VIRENS, (Gm.) Bd.-Black-throated Green Warbler. Shot in vicinity of Hidalgo while we were riding along the road through the woods. It is in very fine plumage. 251--5.00 x 7.75 x 2.63 x 2.12. Apr. 20, Hidalgo. DENDROCA CORONATA, (L.) Gr.—Yellow-rumped Warbler. On the northern end of Padre Island, in the middle of March, I saw more of the migration of our northern birds than during the remainder of my stay in Texas, although I was on the island but three or four days. All of the respectable growth of vegetation upon the island consisted of a few bushes and small trees, in which was located the camp of the Coast Survey. Conspicuous among the birds seen at this time was the Yellow-rumped Warbler. I saw a few also about Brownsville up to about April 15. I am told that some remain all summer on the southern border, but I saw no signs of it. DENDROCA DOMINICA ALBILORA, (L.) Ridgw.-Yellow-throated Warbler. This specimen has the entire superciliary line white.* The only one seen; shot in the open chaparral among mezquite and cactus. 84-7-5.37 x 8.50 x 2.75 x 2.00 Mar. 26, Brownsville. SIURUS MOTACILLA,† (V.) Bp.-Large-billed Water Thrush. Shot near Brownsville in a mezquite grove on the border of a lagoon, some fifty feet from the water's edge. It was seen flitting through the branches near the ground, and never at rest. This is the only one recognized, and, as I was often in favorable places for them, I cannot think them abundant. 119-9-6.00 x 10.00 x 3.00 x 2.00. Mar. 31, Brownsville. ICTERIA VIRENS, (L.) Bd.-Yellow-breasted Chat. This bird is quite common in suitable places, although, as everywhere else, more frequently heard than seen. Its first choice is a thick brushfence. At Brownsville, we were quite surprised to have a bird-woman offer us a pair in a cage, and I bargained with her to keep them for us until our return from up the river, but we never heard from them again. At Hidalgo, nearly every night, when through our work, we went to the river to bathe, and never did we fail to hear the sweet melody of the Chats, in a thicket and brush-fence across the river. No matter at what time we might wake on a still night we could hear "our Chats", as we familiarly called them. I think them by far the finest singers of all our birds. I did not come upon their nests. I am indebted to Dr. Merrill for a set of four eggs and nest, taken near Brownsville while I was up the river. The nest is composed of weeds and a few leaves laid around in layers, and lined with a few rootlets. Outside, it is 4 inches in diameter by 21 deep; inside, 2 diameter by 2 inches deep. The eggs are white, speckled thickly at the larger end and sparsely at the smaller with reddish-brown. Largest egg of the four, 0.92 by 0.71; smallest, 0.85 by 0.69; average size, 0.89 by 0.70. 182-6-7.12 x 9.75 x 3.13 x 3.12. Apr. 8, Brownsville. * [Typically representing Mr. Ridgway's subspecies, which seems to prevail, if it be not the only form, in the Mississippi Basin and Texas.—E. C.] +[See my "Corrections of Nomenclature in the Genus Siurus". <Bull. Nattall Club, ii. 1877, 33.-E. C.] 2 SETOPHAGA RUTICILLA, (L.) Sw.-Redstart. I saw several of this species in the latter part of April at Hidalgo, and shot one female. They frequented the undergrowth of heavy timber on the very bank of the river. TANAGRIDE. PYRANGA ÆSTIVA, (L.) V.—Summer Redbird. The first I saw of this bird was on April 20 in heavy timber in the vicinity of Hidalgo. Here we met the first tall growth of trees, these attaining a height of fifty or sixty feet, and free enough from undergrowth to admit of riding through on horseback. Here two males of this species were shot, and one female seen. They did not seem to be paired at that time. I afterward saw them frequently in the dense woods, but never in the open chaparral. They were generally seen on the undergrowth or among the lower limbs of the larger trees. not find them very shy. On May 7, my companion flushed a bird of this species from its nest, in which there was one egg. He left the nest to consult me, in another part of the woods, whether to leave it for more eggs or take it as it was. We decided to take it, as we were then expecting the boat any day to take us to Brownsville, and the chances of reaching that locality again were very doubtful. On his going back, although not half an hour had elapsed since his first visit, the nest was empty. The nest was built on a very small tree in the heart of the woods, and was only five and one-half feet from the ground on a hori zontal fork, on which several twigs stood upright, serving as a sort of basket to hold it. The body of the nest was composed of Spanish moss and small pliant twigs woven about the living branches. The lining was made entirely of soft, bleached grasses, and is plainly seen through the moss from below. Outside diameter was 5 inches by 44, and depth of 22; inside diameter 24 inches, and 12 deep, with the rim drawn in slightly. 253-3-7.75 x 12.00 x 3.75 x 3.00. Apr. 20, Hidalgo. HIRUNDINIDE. HIRUNDO HORREORUM, Barton.-Barn Swallow. Not noticed on the Rio Grande; but on May 22d, when our steamer was about opposite Galveston, several of this species flew about us, almost in our faces, sometimes alighting on the deck. They kept us company for hours. TACHYCINETA BICOLOR, (V.) Coues.-White-bellied Swallow. Numbers were seen on our way down the coast from Indianola to Point Isabel. They were also seen about the lagoons in the vicinity of Brownsville up to about April 1st, after which time none were observed. PETROCHELIDON LUNIFRONS, (Say) Cab.-Cliff Swallow. None were seen lower down the river than Hidalgo, much to our wonder, for the conditions seem quite as favorable for them at Brownsville or Matamoras as at points above. In the absence of cliffs in the vicinity of Hidalgo, they adapt themselves to the eaves of the buildings in the town. Through the kindness of Sheriff Leo we occupied the court-house, and these Swallows were incessantly working and chattering about us from daylight until dark, and even in the night we could hear them in their nests. We had ample opportunity to observe their habits. They are gregarious in all their occupations. In collecting mud for their houses, the choice spots of their selection on the margin of the river are so thickly covered with them that often more than a hundred will be huddled on and over a space of two feet in diameter. The curious bottle-shaped nests were crowded so thickly together that little could be seen of them but their mouths. We endeavored to obtain a sample of the nests entire; but there was so much quicksand in the mud of which they were made that we found it impracticable to do so. None of the nests were lined. In some we found stones and bits of broken crockery, which had been thrown in by the boys before the nests were completed; and yet the birds had laid their eggs among the rubbish. In making the nest, the first choice is a corner formed by wall, eaves, and rafter, very little labor, therefore, being necessary to make the remaining side. This side or nest is made spherical, with the mouth and neck standing out some two inches from it. The next ones lap on to it, others lap on to them, and so on. As soon as a shelf is formed large enough to hold the bird, it stands on it and works from within. The pair work in turn. To gather the eggs it is necessary to demolish a part of the nest, unless, as we sometimes found, eggs were laid before the nest was finished. In the completed nests, the clutch varied from four to seven; but in one extra large nest, which from its size and shape looked as if two birds occupied it in common, we took ten eggs. From the window of our sleeping-room we could watch the birds at their work without disturbing them, although but four feet distant from some of them. When we took the eggs, on May 7th, some were nearly ready to hatch, but most of them were fresh, and many birds were just beginning their nests. The ground-color of the eggs is a dull white. The markings are brown and very variable. Some are speckled, others blotched; some regularly over the whole egg, and others with far the greater number of spots on the larger end. The longest egg was 0.90, the shortest 0.70; the broadest 0.60, and the narrowest 0.53. The average of fifty eggs is 0.80 by 0.56. 389-Q-5.75 x 11.50 x 4.12 x 1.88. May 7, Hidalgo. AMPELIDÆ. AMPELIS CEDRORUM, (V.) Bd.-Cedar-bird. At Lomita Ranche, some seven miles above Hidalgo, I was surprised to see a flock of birds alight in the top of a large tree over my head. It was rare, indeed, to see a flock of land birds other than Blackbirds, and even they, at that time of year, were scattered in pairs and busy with nests and eggs. Upon firing I was still further surprised to pick up our own familiar Cherry-bird. The day was hot, being about 100° Fahrenheit in the shade. I have shot the same bird at home when the thermometer indicated 120 below zero. These birds were in full plumage, and were the only ones seen. 400-3-7.37 x 12.00 x 3.75 x 2.37. May 8, Hidalgo. VIREONIDE. VIREO OLIVACEUS, (L.) V.—Red-eyed Vireo. Shot by the roadside in the woods. The only one secured. The eggs were well developed. 307-9-6.12 x 9.75 x 3.00 x 2.00. Apr. 30, Hidalgo. VIREO NOVEBORACENSIS, (Gm.) Bp.-White-eyed Vireo. Two birds of this species were shot in open chaparral, and were probably migrating. We noticed none after March 27. 85--5.00 x 7.50 x 2.50 x 2.00. VIREO BELLI, Aud.-Bell's Vireo. Mar. 26, Brownsville. Mar. 27, Brownsville. This single specimen was shot seven miles from Hidalgo, in a small bush under an ebony-tree. Of its habits I saw nothing. 394-3-5.25 x 7.25 x 2.12 x 1.88. May 8, Hidalgo. LANIDE. COLLURIO LUDOVICIANUS EXCUBITORIDES; (L.) Bd.-Loggerhead Shrike. This variety was quite common in open places, but very shy. It was rarely seen in the dense chaparral or wooded districts, preferring the openings near towns and ranches or the prairies. RHYNCHOPHANES* MACCOWNI, (Lawr.) Bd.-McCown's Bunting. * [Baird, in 1858, it will be remembered, noted the non-agreement of the species with the characters of Plectrophanes proper, and made a new subgenus, Rhynchophanes, for its accommodation. I have lately found a prior notice to the same effect. Bonaparte had said in 1857, in his "Observations sur Diverses Espèces d'Emberiziens", etc., Rev. et Mag. de Zool. ix. 1857, 161 :-" Mais ce que nous n'avons pas dit encore, et que nous proclamons ici, c'est que le prétendu Plectrophanes maccowni Lawrence, Ann. Lyc. N.York, V, p. 122, du Texas oriental, n'est pas de celle Sous-famille, mais un Loxien du groupe des Montifringilles, très-voisin de Rhodopechys phonicoptera."―E. C.] |