the culmen, sweeping obliquely across the basal part of the nasal scale, and forming at the angle of the mouth a deep reëntrance with those of the chin, which reach much farther forward on the interramal space. Size large; length 44; extent 5; wing 24; tail 14, forked about ; bill .-E. C.] This is the second specimen of this species obtained within our limits, the first having been taken the previous year by Dr. Merrill.* This one was shot while hovering over wild flowers near the ground, among cactus and low bushes, not far from Brownsville. I saw a number of Hummers differing from these, but I could not get them, and did not make them out. It is difficult in this country to follow and secure large birds, much more these tiny creatures. 89-4.50 x 5.65 x 2.35 x 1.50. Mar. 27, Brownsville. ALCEDINIDE. CERYLE ALCYON, (L.) Boie.-Belted Kingfisher. While at Brownsville, I saw several of this species about the lagoons a few miles back from the river. They are by no means abundant. CUCULIDE. GEOCOCCYX CALIFORNIANUS, (Less.) Bd.—Chaparral Cock. I saw this singular bird for the first time at Corpus Christi, but afterward found it common on the Rio Grande. At first I was unable to shoot them; but as I became more familiar with them I had no difficulty in securing all I wished. They are not wholly a ground bird, as has been said. They take to wing when alarmed, and frequently of their own accord. I have seen a pair fly from the edge of water to the woods, a distance of over a hundred yards, where they had an equal chance of getting out of sight by running. I saw two fly into a mezquite-tree, and shot one of them when it was at least ten feet from the ground. They invariably breed in trees or bushes. That they are good runners there is no doubt; but their powers in this direction, I think, have been overestimated. An examination of the feet of a large number of birds will show that they are used much more on the ground than in perching, yet it seems quite an effort for them to curl up the ends of the toes. The only sound I ever heard this bird make was what I supposed to be a call for its mate. I happened once to hear one around the bend of an unfrequented road in the woods in which I was strolling. I stood perfectly still, and it soon made its appearance, coming toward me, but still a long way off. It would run a few yards, calling at the same time, stop, listen for a few seconds, holding up its head in a very conceited way, and then start on again, calling. It seemed unconscious of my presence, and came so near to me that I could easily have shot it with the smallest charge, but I did not, as I wished to see if its mate would come. However, she did not. These birds are very fond of lizards, so common to this region. I have seen one jump several feet to catch a * See Bulletin of Nuttall Orn. Club, ii. n. 1, 26, Jan. 1877. lizard sunning itself on a bush, and have shot others while engaged in eating them on the ground. Of their breeding habits there seems to be little known, and reports vary. As I was fortunate enough to find their nests, I will give the details, hoping to settle doubts. My first nest of this species I found near Hidalgo, on April 27th, in a tree surrounded by high, thorny bushes. It was a frail nest, composed of sticks and weeds, and lined with loose grasses. It was situated eight feet from the ground, in a broad crotch, close to the body of a tree, and contained nine eggs. A majority of them were fresh, but a few showed that incubation had taken place. The next nest was found April 28th, in a janco-bush, very near the village of Hidalgo. It was set in the thick mass of thorns, away from the body of the bush; was about five feet from the ground, composed of sticks and grasses, and contained one egg. It was visited for several days, but we could perceive no warmth to the egg, nor were others added to it. On May 3d, we took the egg, concluding that its parent had been shot. On May 4th, a nest containing four perfectly fresh eggs was found, about six feet from the ground, in a small tree in a very dense thicket. This was so far out of town, and in such a wild and unfamiliar section, that I dared not leave it for fear that I should not find it again. On the same day, I watched for some time a bird of this species carrying sticks for its nest, and although I could locate the thicket into which it took them, yet I could not penetrate it, although I tried several times thereafter. On May 9th, two perfectly fresh eggs were brought me by a Mexican, which he had taken from a nest in a bush. The depression of any nest was seldom deeper than the width of the egg. The first nest, with clutch of nine, could have held but two or three more eggs comfortably. From the fact that the nine eggs were warm when I found them, it is reasonable to suppose that the bird had begun to sit; and as none of them showed much development of embryo, she could not have been a very long time at it. The natives told me stories about these birds beginning to sit from the time they com mence to lay, and continuing to sit throughout the season; that a large number of eggs are laid, and a considerable time intervening between the laying of any two; as a consequence, the bird of the first egg would become fully grown before the last egg of the season was laid. On May 20th, as I was about taking the steamer at Point Isabel, a boy brought me a young one of this species about one-fourth grown, the first and only chick seen by me. I put no faith in the stories mentioned above, nor in accounts of these birds attacking and mastering the large rattlesnakes of the country. From my observations, their complement of eggs is from eight to twelve. The eggs are very uniform in shape and size, double-rounded; rarely one is found with tendency toward a point. Length varies from 1.57 to 1.42; breadth from 1.23 to 1.20; average of the sixteen eggs before me is 1.50 by 1.21. Color pure white. 106--23.00 x 21.50 x 7.00 x 11.50. Mar. 29, Brownsville. COCCYGUS AMERICANUS, (L.) Bp.-Yellow-billed Cuckoo. I met this species occasionally. Several sets of eggs were brought me, and the boys were positive of their belonging to this bird, as they undoubtedly do. Their shape is long, double-rounded. Their color is rich pea-green. Their average size is 1.20 by 0.92. 379——12.00 x 17.00 x 5.90 x 5.75. May 6, Hidalgo. PICIDE. PICUS SCALARIS, Wagler.-Texas Woodpecker. I This and Centurus. aurifrons are the only ones of the family we found on the Rio Grande. The former, though not so abundant as the latter, is found common among the timber and mezquite chaparral. The softwood telegraph poles give proof also of the numbers of both species. I saw nothing in the habits of this small Woodpecker differing from our Downy Woodpecker of the North. Suitable trees for their nests were some distance out of Brownsville, and as we were not allowed to tamper with the government telegraph poles, we did not secure eggs at that place. When we reached Hidalgo, the season was pretty far advanced for them, and when we found their nests they all contained young. found one nest, with four young, in the heart of the village. This bird breeds earlier than the Yellow-faced Woodpecker. April 29th, I flushed a bird from its nest, seven feet from the ground, in a partially decayed tree, and found within three young and one perfect egg, which fortunately was not fertilized. At another time, another nest of this species was found containing young and one egg. I took it to our room, and laid it on the table with other eggs. The next day, when going to blow it, imagine my surprise to see it in halves and a young bird exposed. The chick had pecked around the greater diameter until it had parted as nicely as could be. Both eggs have the greatest diameter nearer one end than the other. Their color is clear glassy-white. The size of the whole one is 0.77 by 0.60. That of the broken one is certainly no longer, and may be 0.05 of an inch broader. These facts and figures are so at variance with the description of egg given by Baird, Brewer and Ridgway in "North American Birds", ii. 519, that I must believe that they have given a description of some other egg. Their description answers so nearly to the egg of Centurus aurifrons, that I should say it referred to the latter, rather than to Picus scalaris. 65—7—7.00 x 13.25 x 4.00 x 2.75. 75--7.50 x 13.50 x 4.10 x 2.25. 147 - ♂ -7.50 x 13.25 x 4.00 x 2.40. 148-9-7.10 x 13 00 x 4.05 x 2.50. 214-7.25 x 13.25 x 4.00 x 2.50. 355-Q-7.25 x 13.00 x 3.85 x 2.40. Mar. 24, Brownsville. CENTURUS AURIFRONS, (Wagl.) Gray.-Yellow-faced Woodpecker. Abundant everywhere in timber on the Rio Grande, and not very shy. I had ample opportunity to observe this species. It is rather more quiet than its near relative of the North. It builds its nest at all heights (sometimes so low a man can reach it from the ground), in any sort of tree, whether dead or alive. The square government telegraph poles are its favorite nesting-place. There is hardly a pole free from their holes, and in one I counted ten; probably some were made by their only relative of that section, Picus scalaris, Texas Woodpecker. They build much in live trees, dead timber being very scarce, but in them their holes could not be so readily seen. About May 1st, they had but fairly begun to lay, so that we were not long enough among their favorite resorts to secure many eggs. On May 3d, I secured a set of three fresh eggs, about ten feet from the ground, in an old dead tree, and shot the bird. On the same day, I secured another set of four from a nest only seven feet from the ground, in a hollow stub of a live tree. On May 8th, I was shown a hole about twenty feet from the ground in the crotch of a tree at the camp. In it I was told there were six or seven eggs. I could not take time then to get them, and did not go there again before leaving. The birds had been watched since they had taken possession of the tree, and were fully identified. Eggs are oblong-oval and clear glassy-white. They vary little in size, averaging 1.02 by 0.76. 64—3—10.00 x 17.00 x 5.25 x 3.75. 76-3-10.00 x 17.00 x 5.25 x 3.25. 77--10.50 x 17.50 x 5.50 x 3.40. 949.75 x 17.50 x 5.50 x 3.50. 149-10.00 x 17.50 x 5.25 x 3.50. 216-9.75 x 17.50 x 5.50 x 3.50. 217--10.25 x 17.50 x 5.25 x 3.25. 354-99.50 x 16.25 x 4.90 x 3.15. STRIGIDE. Mar. 24, Brownsville. STRIX FLAMMEA AMERICANA, (Aud.) Coues.—Barn Owl. The only opportunity I had of observing these birds in a state of freedom was while on the steamer going up and down the river. Their holes in the banks were seen frequently, and occasionally a bird would be sitting in one of them. At Brownsville I was told that they occupied the belfry of the hospital, also the attic of one of the society halls in the city. Two birds were brought alive to me just before leaving for home. No eggs were secured. BUBO VIRGINIANUS, (Gm.) Bp.-Great Horned Owl. In the latter part of April, Mr. Webster gave chase to a pair of these birds, but did not succeed in securing them. SCOPS ASIO MACCALLI, (Cass.) Coues.-McCall's Owl. On April 23d, while on the side of a gully in the edge of a woods, I flushed a bird of this species from its nest above my head. The Owl alighted in a tree so close to me that had I given it a full charge of No. 9 shot it would have been blown to pieces. I watched it some time in hopes it would fly a little farther off; but it had no idea of taking its eyes from me. I therefore gave it a half charge of dust, and, to my surprise, it got away from me. It was in very light gray plumage, and looked to me like a faded specimen of our Northeastern bird. The nest contained three perfectly fresh eggs, was situated about ten feet from the ground in a dead stub about nine inches in diameter, and so weak and rotten that I could have pushed it over. The eggs are pure white, and nearly round. They measure 1.35 by 1.12, 1.35 by 1.18, and 1.40 by 1.17. The location was about four miles from Hidalgo, up the river, and within about one-fourth of a mile of its bank.* GLAUCIDIUM FERRUGINEUM.-Ferrugineous Owl. [ rertice toto albido lineato nec punctato, caudâ totâ ferrugineá tæniis septem ad novem fusco-nigris regulariter transfasciatâ; dorso olivaceo-fusco, innotato; scapularibus maculis magnis singularibus aut binis subterminalibus notatis; torque nuchali nigro, albido et luteo variegato ; remigibus dorso concoloribus, rufo transfasciatis, necnon intus albido dentatis; rostro e flavo virescente, iridibus flavis; long. tot. 64 poll., ålar. exp. 14; alæ 34; caudæ 21. ♂, adult, in the "brown" or normal plumage: Tail entirely ferrugineous, or light chestnut-red, crossed with 7 to 9 bars of blackish-brown-these bars of the same width as the rufous interspaces, and both sets of markings quite regular and transverse. (These tail-marks distinguish the species in any plumage from G. gnoma.) Entire top of the head, above the superciliary ridges, and sides of the head behind the auriculars, olivaceous-brown, like the back, but streaked with small, sharp, and distinct lines of white or fulvous-whitish; these markings being on the forehead and most of the crown like pin-scratches in the sharpness of their definition, and though a little less so behind the ears, everywhere retaining their narrow linear character. (In G. gnoma, the head-markings are dots and spots, not lines.) Back like the head, olivaceous-brown, but without markings, except on the scapulars, most of which feathers have each one a large, rounded, white spot on the outer web near the end, and more or fewer pairs of fulvous spots farther along on both webs. Color of back and head divided by an obvious cervical collar, consisting of a series of diffuse whitish, and another similar of fulvous spots, separated by a nearly continuous line of black. Upper tail-coverts usually more or less rufescent, approximating to the ground-color of the tail itself. Remiges olivaceous-fuscous, like the back, the primaries imperfectly and indistinctly, the secondaries completely and decidedly, cross-barred with numerous rufescent bands, narrower than the dark intervals, besides which markings some of the primaries have an incompleted series of small whitish or very pale fulvous spots along the outer edge, and all have large and deep indentations of white or whitish along the inner webthese white indentations increasing in size from the ends toward the bases of all the feathers, and also growing larger on individual feathers from the outer primaries to the inner secondaries, on which last they reach quite across the under webs. Lining of wings white, with an oblique dark bar, and another curved dark bar, the latter across the ends of the under coverts. The under parts are difficult of description, owing to the diffuseness of the markings; we may say ground-color of under parts white, heavily streaked along the sides with the color of the back; this color extending quite across the breast, where, however, the feathers have centrally dilated shaft-lines of whitish; chin and throat white, divided into two areas by a blackish or dark gular collar, which curves across from one postauricular region to the other. Auriculars dark, sharply * [Having examined no specimens, the identification is tentative.-E. C.] |