that the birds must be well marked, or shot on the nest, to be sure of their identification. Both kinds breed there side by side, in equal numbers, and, fortunately, both are quite tame, so that one can approach carefully under the rushes to within a short distance, and can mark and follow the birds. I obtained many fresh eggs of this bird, and but for preferring Glossy Ibis, and having all the load we could manage for a rough road home, I should have taken more. The complement is four. The eggs are oval, of a pale greenish-blue, and average 1.66 by 1.25 inches. 427-Q-23.25 x 37.00 x 9.50 x 3.50. May 15, Brownsville. HYDRANASSA TRICOLOR, (Müll.) Ridgw.-Louisiana Heron. This Heron was not noticed until I found it breeding, May 15th, in the rushes of the salt-marshes between Brownsville and the coast. Its nest and eggs are so similar to those of Ardea candidissima, that one description will answer for both. What little difference I find in the shape of the eggs is, that those of this species are rather longer and more pointed on an average. I have found, however, well identified eggs of each that cannot be told apart. The nests contained young of all ages up to one-fourth size; and I found about the same variation in the same clutch as I did in A. egretta, Great White Egret. Perfectly fresh eggs were very scarce in hundreds of nests examined. Four eggs are generally laid. The old birds were bold, and the contrast in colors made them look fine as they circled about our heads. The shape of the eggs is oblong-oval, and the color, like most of the Herons, a pale greenish-blue. They average 1.78 by 1.29 inches. 425-Q-26.25 x 38.00 x 9.65 x 3.15. May 15, Brownsville. DICHROMANASSA RUFA, (Bodd.) Ridgw.—Reddish Egret. I only observed this Heron on the islands and lagoons, near Corpus Christi Pass, in the middle of March. Both the adult and white young were shot. The proportion seemed to be largely in favor of the adult plumage. They were not at all shy. I have seen them alight on the oyster-beds, within range of me, when I have been in a rowboat, and they would let me approach within easy gunshot range before they would discontinue feeding or searching for food. They were exceedingly fat, more so, I think, than the Oyster-catchers. These and the Great Blue Herons were seen feeding together, and a few others of the family at this particular place. I was too early for their eggs, but since my return I have received a set from there without any particulars. Their shape is long-oval and color pale greenish-blue. They average 2 by 1.47 inches. 34——27.50 x 46.50 x 12.50 x 4.50. Mar. 14, Padre Island. FLORIDA CERULEA, (L.) Bd.-Little Blue Heron. I shot a single specimen of this species a few miles from Brownsville, and only saw two or three others in the same locality. 107—9—23.50 x 41.00 x 11.50 x 4.50. Mar. 29, Brownsville. NYCTIARDEA NÆVIA, (Bodd.) Allen.-Night Heron. Heard at night, as we were going down the coast, but not seen until we came upon the heronry in the salt-marshes between Brownsville and the coast. There I found it breeding, not in such numbers as others of the family, but still common. The nests were bulky affairs, composed of the dead rushes, and placed near the water on broken-down and living rushes. Nearly all contained young, but I secured a set of three very fresh eggs. The old birds were exceedingly noisy and bold, and the young pugnacious from their exit from the eggs. They had no idea of leaving the nest at my approach, but, instead, would strike out at my hands, and, even when caught, would not cease to fight. Their nests were more filthy than the others; the young are half-naked, and a miserable, vagabond-looking set they are. The usual number of eggs is four. Their color is bluish-white and shape very broadly oval. Their average size is 1.94 by 1.52. NYCTHERODIUS VIOLACEUS, (L.) Reich.-Yellow-crowned Night Heron. Several were observed in swamps and thickets on Nueces Bay, near Corpus Christi, on the 8th of March. None were obtained, however, as they were shy and the thickets too difficult to penetrate. ARDETTA EXILIS, (Gm.) Gr.-Least Bittern. Occasionally seen about the marshes. I shot one and saw others at the great heronry, near Brownsville, on May 16th. I did not find its nest, but I am confident it breeds there. 438-3-14.25 x 18.25 x 4.60 x 1.90. May 16, Brownsville. GRUIDE. GRUS AMERICANA, (L.) Ord.- White Crane. I frequently saw these noble birds of the prairies feeding in the lagoons, as we went down the coast, and in the wet places about Brownsville, up to about April 1st. They were always in pairs, and, as usual, very shy. RALLIDE. RALLUS LONGIROSTRIS, Bodd.-Clapper Rail. A few of this species were seen about Galveston only, and a single bird obtained. 3—9—14.60 x 20.00 x 5.75 x 2.50. Feb. 28, Galveston. GALLINULA GALEATA, (Licht.) Bp.-Florida Gallinule. The only place that I was sure of seeing this bird was at the "heronry". Here I saw quantities of them, and it is quite probable that I saw them in company with Coots on the river. When gathering Ibis and Heron eggs, I heard constantly the notes of this bird and Fulica americana, and found its nest quite common in the same rushes. Its nest is built of dead rushes, and floats upon the water, moored to the stalks of growing reeds. I took one clutch of fourteen, another of nine, and another of seven, on May 16th, perfectly fresh. In color and markings I see no variation from Florida specimens. They average 1.77 by 1.25. 447-9-14.00 x 22.25 x 6.75 x 2.75. May 16, Brownsville. FULICA AMERICANA, Gm.-American Coot. Very abundant on the river between Brownsville and Hidalgo; and as our steamer came upon them, instead of flying they would generally paddle to the shore, run up the banks, and hide behind clumps of earth or roots. I found it breeding in about equal numbers with Gallinula galeata in the marshes below Brownsville. Sets of thirteen, eleven, and so on down, of fresh eggs were taken. The nests were made of rushes, fastened to the reeds in the densest parts, and floated on the water. The markings of the eggs are no different from Northwestern specimens. They average 1.94 by 1.30. ANATIDE. ANSER HYPERBOREUS, Pall.-Snow Goose. On March 29th, while near the Rio Grande, about half way between its mouth and Brownsville, I saw large numbers of this species, and shot one. The were feeding on the immense mud-flats of the marshes, and by the time I reached my bird it was covered with mud. I saw none later than this, although on the coast, earlier, it was frequently observed about the lagoons and marshes. DENDROCYGNA AUTUMNALIS, (L.) Eyton.-Autumnal Tree Duck. This fine Goose-like Duck is not uncommon in suitable places along the Lower Rio Grande. By the inhabitants it is called "Corn-field Duck", from its habit of frequenting corn-fields for the grain, at which times it is a common market bird. At the time of my observations, it was busy breeding, and the few seen were very shy. In going up the river from Brownsville, April 15th, single birds and groups of two or three were met very frequently; but coming down, May 12th, they were much more abundant, gathered in flocks of ten or twelve on the sand-bars. At this time, I think the females were busy sitting on their eggs. I shot but one, and it was lost in the river. I did not come across its nest. Since my return, I received a letter from Dr. Finley, stationed at camp near Hidalgo, stating that he obtained a set of their eggs soon after I left, and that they are extremely difficult to find. He gave no further particulars. He also secured a fine bird for me. ANAS OBSCURA, Gm.-Dusky Duck. On May 19th, I shot two females of this species near Point Isabel, on the borders of a bayou. Each bird was shot flying alone, and I regret that I did not pay more attention to their dissection, and could not save their skins, for I suspect they were breeding in the vicinity. It was on the eve of my departure, and I had other birds occupying my attention. DAFILA ACUTA, (L.) Jenyns.—Pintail Duck. Only noticed along the coast on our way down, and about the marshes in the vicinity of Brownsville up to April 1st. CHAULELASMUS STREPERUS, (L.) Gray.-Gadwall. Very abundant about Galveston and Corpus Christi Bays in March. Not noticed on the Rio Grande. MARECA AMERICANA, (Gm.) Steph.-Baldpate. Only noticed in the lagoons and bays near the coast, as I was going down. SPATULA CLYPEATA, (L.) Boie.—Shoveller. Common along the river and lagoons in the interior. On April 26th, at Hidalgo, I saw three males and one female resting on a sand-bar, and I obtained all but one male at a single discharge. FULIGULA AFFINIS, Eyton.-Lesser Blackhead. The most common duck seen on our way down. Corpus Christi Bay was filled with them, and they were so fat they could hardly fly. PELECANIDE. PELECANUS TRACHYRHYNCHUS, Lath.-White Pelican. These conspicuous birds were seen on and near the coast constantly on my way down, and when I left the mouth of the Rio Grande, on May 20th, they were still there, but in much more limited numbers. Up the river as far as Hidalgo, on May 2d, I saw a flock of twenty five sail over the town and river. On the evening of May 11th, I shot one from the steamer as I was going toward Brownsville. Near the salt-marshes and the heronry, between Brownsville and the coast, on May 16, they were standing on the shores of the lakes, and at Point Isabel, on May 19, I saw a few. With my glass, I could plainly see that they had crests on the culmen, and, as both sexes have the crests, I should not be suprised to hear of their breeding on our extreme Southern border. In fact, I think it altogether probable. Why not? They breed with Forster's Terns, Sterna forsteri, in the Northwest and British America, and, as I have found the latter breeding on the Rio Grande, I would expect also to find the White Pelican. PELECANUS FUSCUS, L.-Brown Pelican. Abundant along the coast, and in the bayous and lagoons adjoining. In going down, I was too early for their eggs, and, in coming back, too late. At Padre and Mustang Islands, they were very abundant, and a set of two eggs, laid after I left, was sent me from there, where they breed on the small sand islands, in great numbers, along with Gulls and Terns. Two eggs sent me from Padre Island measure 3.20 by 2.00 and 2.90 by 1.93. GRACULIDE. GRACULUS MEXICANUS, (Brandt) Bp.-Mexican Cormorant. Frequently seen on the extreme southern border, both about the salt ponds and marshes and the fresh-water lagoons up the river. I saw them in flocks of a dozen or more, but generally in pairs or groups of three or four. I have seen them swimming, standing on the shore, and perched on snags over the water. No nests were found, but they undoubtedly breed there, particularly near the coast. I did not notice any at Hidalgo. Other members of this family were seen in great numbers on the coast going down, but none obtained. 70-Q-26.00 x 40.25 x 10.25 x 6.50. Mar. 24, Brownsville. LARIDE. LARUS ARGENTATUS, Brünn.-Herring Gull. Not noticed far below Galveston, where, March 1st, they were very abundant and moulting. LARUS DELAWARENSIS, Ord.-Ring-billed Gull. Very abundant at Galveston, March 1st, where it was in company with L. argentatus and L. atricilla. It was not noticed farther south than Indianola. LARUS ATRICILLA, L.-Laughing Gull. Everywhere abundant coastwise, especially so about Corpus Christi Bay. On May 16th, when at the marshes, we would meet this bird in small companies. By their actions, I knew their nests were near, and yet I did not come upon them. They are less wary and more numerous than any other Gull or Tern on the coast. 10-9-17.00 x 44.00 x 14.00 x 5.00. Mar. 3, Galveston. STERNA ANGLICA, Montagu.-Marsh Tern. This Tern was observed at almost all points along the coast as I went down. At Galveston, March 1st, it was in company with Sterna caspia, Caspian Tern, and Sterna forsteri, Forster's Tern, in about equal proportions. At Nueces Bay and Corpus Christi Pass, it was quite common. On May 16th, when collecting eggs of Stilt, Himantopus nigri collis, and Forster's Tern, Sterna forsteri, I found on the same island, |