occurrence as narrated. These facts bear directly on the long contested
question of the relationship which _H. aliciæ_ and _H. swainsoni_ bear
to one another, and it can scarcely be denied that the present evidence
on this point is conclusive. Not only have we representatives of both
birds preserving their respective identities at the same locality, under
identical conditions of environment, but examples of each taken under
these circumstances, display, except in size, even a greater
dissimilitude than those which occur together on their migrations. There
is but one tenable interpretation of these facts: the birds—_Hylocichla
aliciæ_ and _H. ustulata swainsoni_—are wholly and entirely distinct.
Any theory of dichromatism which might be advanced, aside from its
extreme unlikelihood, would be shown inadequate by the relative
differences in proportions of parts which the two birds exhibit. These
differences, as well as those of color are illustrated by the Catskill
birds. A specimen of _H. swainsoni_ taken at the top of Slide Mountain
was in every way typical of its species, and conspicuously unlike the
examples of _bicknelli_ taken at the same time. Aside from differences
in the proportions of parts, the two birds were strikingly different in
color, the decided grayish olive tinge of the superior surface of
_swainsoni_ contrasting strongly with the much darker brownish cast of
its congener. One example of the latter instead of showing indications
of a buffy tinge about the sides of the head and on the breast, which
under the circumstances we should expect to be the case, were it in any
way specifically related to _swainsoni_, has absolutely no indications
whatever of this shade about the sides of the head, and actually less on
the breast than any specimens of true _aliciæ_ that I have seen, and
this little most evident low down where the corresponding shade in
_swainsoni_ begins to pale. It seems probable that this newly recognized
race of _aliciæ_ is responsible for much of the ambiguity which the
discussion of both species by different writers has occasioned. Indeed,
it seems to occupy the same position relative to _aliciæ_ proper which,
by some, _swainsoni_ was supposed to hold, viz., the more southern-born
individuals of the species, but that it represents a link specifically
connecting the two, the facts already presented refute. As it occurs
with true _aliciæ_ on the autumn migration most specimens of the new
form are paler and more brownish in color above, and their general size
is nearly that of _swainsoni_,[77] and these differences may be regarded
by some as approaches towards the latter species. In both species there
is a wide individual variation, but the closest approach of each towards
the other never exceeds that limit within which each may vary without
its specific distinctness being compromised. I have yet to see a
specimen of either which would admit of the slightest question as to its
identity. I speak thus of adult birds. In such closely related species
the young must almost necessarily approximate, and to these we must
appeal for light on the things that have been—on the question of
origin—whether one has been derived from the other, or both species from
a common ancestor. Such obscure insight into this point as I have been
permitted seems to indicate that the latter alternative will be found to
be the more correct, but, for the present, from lack of the necessary
data this important subject is proscribed.
It is unnecessary here to repeat the diagnosis of the new form of
_Hylocichla aliciæ_ given by Mr. Ridgway in the paper before cited. As
this writer states, the race breeds “probably in other mountainous
districts of the northeastern United States” than the single locality
where it was discovered, and it seems very singular that up to the
present time we have no knowledge of its occurrence in the summer season
elsewhere, even in regions where the two congeneric species with which
it was here associating—_H. nanus_[78] and _H. swainsoni_—are well known
to be common summer residents. The occurrence of a representative of _H.
aliciæ_ in the United States at all during its breeding season is a
matter of surprise, especially when we recollect the boreal distribution
of the typical form during that period, and read[79] that so far towards
the north as the Yukon and the Great Slave Lake it occurs “only as a
bird of passage to and from more northern breeding grounds.” Additional
information respecting the distribution of the new race will be awaited
with great interest.
SHORT NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF BAYOU SARA, LOUISIANA.
BY CHARLES WICKLIFFE BECKHAM.
As the avian fauna of the lower Mississippi Valley is now receiving some
attention,[80] it seems well that I should contribute my mite of
information to the general fund.
Bayou Sara and the adjoining town of St. Francisville, in the parish of
West Feliciana, are situated on the east bank of the Mississippi River,
170 miles above New Orleans by that stream and about 80 miles in an air
line northwest of it. It is 30 or 40 miles north of Baton Rouge, near
which place Dr. Langdon made his observations in April, 1881. The
following notes were made principally on and near “Wyoming,” two miles
from the river, the plantation of Ex-Gov. R. C. Wickliffe, a place
possessing peculiarly agreeable ornithological associations on account
of its former owner, Gen. Dawson, having entertained Audubon as his
guest for several months. It will be remembered that the type specimen
of _Buteo harlani_ was captured here.
The topography is much more interesting, and is quite different from
that farther south and that immediately opposite on the west side of the
river. A level plateau, 100 feet above the levee, begins about a quarter
of a mile from the river and extends back into the State of Mississippi.
This plateau is deeply cut by numerous creeks and ravines, the banks of
which are generally densely wooded, with water oak, sweet-gum, cedar,
prickly ash, magnolias, etc. All of the level ground on top is in a
state of cultivation; cotton being the principal crop. A few miles
farther up the high ground does not extend so near the river, the
intervening space being occupied by several small lakes and swamps—a
great resort for water birds of all kinds. On account of the high water
I did not have an opportunity of visiting this interesting field.
My observations extended only over a period of five days from April 15th
to 19th, 1882, inclusive, but a great deal of ground was canvassed in
that time; nearly the whole of each day being spent in the field. A good
many birds were shot, but few were preserved, as taxidermy was
necessarily subordinated to field-work. Dr. Langdon in his interesting
paper particularly remarks the absence of the Catbird, Black-and-White
Creeper, White-browed Yellow-throat, Kentucky Warbler, Large-billed
Water Thrush, and the Redstart, but I found all of these at “Wyoming,”
together with many others not noted by either him or Mr. Hay, the
Catbird and Kentucky Warbler being particularly abundant.
The writer was greatly assisted in his work by Mr. Robert Wederstraudt
of “Wyoming,” a young man whose unusually close and accurate
observations of birds and bird life rendered his help peculiarly
valuable. Many of the following notes are credited to him entirely. I
have followed the nomenclature of the Smithsonian list of 1881.
1. =Hylocichla mustelina= (_Gm._) _Bd._ WOOD THRUSH.—Common in
woodland, and several seen in the yard near the house.
2. =Merula migratoria= (_L._) _Sw. and Rich._ AMERICAN ROBIN.—Not
observed. They appear here in large numbers early in February to feed
on the fruit of the “wild peach,” and hundreds are shot for the table.
They leave early in March.
3. =Mimus polyglottus= (_L._) _Boie_. MOCKINGBIRD.—Very abundant, both
in the town about gardens and yards, and in the country. Frequenting
open ground exclusively. Four sets of eggs were taken; two perfectly
fresh, and two about half incubated. Mr. Wederstraudt called my
attention to a curious foraging habit of this bird. We noticed one
hopping along the ground in an open grassy place, pausing at every
three or four hops to extend and close its wings. It repeated this
several times until a grasshopper was flushed, when the bird
immediately “reached” for it, and having captured it, made off to a
neighboring bush to eat it. Mr. Wederstraudt says that he has observed
this interesting performance many times.
4. =Galeoscoptes carolinensis= (_L._) _Cab._ CATBIRD.—Abundant in the
shrubbery in the creek bottoms. None were seen near the dwellings.
5. =Harporhynchus rufus= (_L._) _Cab._ BROWN THRASHER.—Abundant in
same places as the last. Three clutches of three eggs each were taken,
in one of which incubation was very far advanced, and on the 19th a
nest was found containing two young nearly able to fly.
6. =Sialia sialis= (_L._) _Haldem._ BLUEBIRD.—Observed several pairs
in town and in the country. Not as common as in Kentucky.
7. =Polioptila cærulea= (_L._) _Scl._ BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER.—A common,
and, on account of its active and noisy habits, conspicuous bird.
8. =Lophophanes bicolor= (_L._) _Bp._ TUFTED TITMOUSE.—Not very
common. Frequenting principally the tops of trees.
9. =Parus carolinensis= _Aud._ CAROLINA CHICKADEE.—But few observed. A
pair bred in a hole in a cedar post within twenty yards of the house
last year.
10. =Thryothorus ludovicianus= (_Gm._) _Bp._ CAROLINA WREN.—Very
abundant everywhere. A clutch of three eggs was taken on the 19th from
a nest in a small recess formed by the junction of several timbers,
under the piazza, which was frequented at all times of the day. The
nest was empty on the 16th, one egg was deposited on the 17th, one on
the 18th, and one on the 19th. I saw neither of the old birds about
the place at all, and it was only by capturing the female on the nest
at night, that the eggs were positively identified. A pair have bred
about this piazza for many years, I am informed.
11. =Mniotilta varia= (_L._) _V._ BLACK-AND-WHITE CREEPER.—A male, the
only one seen at all, was captured in a dense wood on the 17th.
12. =Parula americana= (_L._) _Bp._ BLUE-YELLOW-BACKED WARBLER.—Very
abundant. A persistent but weak vocalist.
13. =Dendrœca æstiva= (_Gm._) _Bd._ SUMMER YELLOWBIRD.—Common in open
places.
14. =Dendrœca blackburniæ= (_Gm._) _Bd._ BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER.—Common
in large trees about open ground.
15. =Dendrœca dominica albilora= _Bd._ WHITE-BROWED-YELLOW-THROATED
WARBLER.—A male, the only one seen, was shot out of a magnolia tree on
the 10th. In all of my Kentucky specimens of this bird the anterior
portion of the superciliary line has a trace of yellow. In this one no
yellow is perceptible.
16. =Dendrœca pinus= (_Wils._) _Bd._ PINE-CREEPING WARBLER.—Apparently
not uncommon. Preferring open ground. In song.
17. =Siurus auricapillus= (_L._) _Sw._ GOLDEN-CROWNED THRUSH.—One
specimen captured in a thicket on the 15th.
18. =Siurus motacilla= (_V._) _Coues_. LARGE-BILLED WATER
THRUSH.—Heard one singing in a densely wooded ravine on the 17th. Mr.
Wederstraudt has often seen them in pairs along the smaller
water-courses.
19. =Oporornis formosa= (_Wils._) _Bd._ KENTUCKY WARBLER.—One of the
most abundant inhabitants of the dense growth along the ravines. Two
or three were often heard singing at the same time.
20. =Geothlypis trichas= (_L._) _Cab._ MARYLAND
YELLOW-THROAT.—Abundant in the usual places.
21. =Icteria virens= (_L._) _Bd._ YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT.—Very abundant.
In full song.
22. =Myiodioctes mitratus= (_Gm._) _Aud._ HOODED WARBLER.—Found in
same places, and almost as abundant as the Kentucky Warbler. An
inhabitant of the undergrowth principally. In song; its note being
uttered at intervals of 15 or 20 seconds as it hops from branch to
branch in pursuit of insects.
23. =Setophaga ruticilla= (_L._) _Sw._ REDSTART.—A single specimen, a
male, captured in a swamp. It was in company with a female.
24. =Vireosylvia olivacea= (_L._) _Bp._ RED-EYED VIREO.—Very abundant
everywhere.
25. =Vireosylvia gilva= (_V._) _Cass._ WARBLING VIREO.—Heard one
singing in a shade tree in Bayou Sara on the 15th.
26. =Vireo noveboracensis= (_Gm._) _Bp._ WHITE-EYED VIREO.—Very
abundant and voluble everywhere.
27. =Lanius ludovicianus= _L._ LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE.—Not observed. Mr.
Wederstraudt says that they are not uncommon here in the fall. He once
saw one kill and _devour_ a small bird in a thorn tree.
28. =Ampelis cedrorum= (_V._) _Bd._ CEDAR WAXWING.—Observed several
small flocks. Said to be very abundant here in winter when numbers are
shot for the table. Known here as the “ortolan”—the fourth bird, I
believe, embraced under that comprehensive name.
29. =Progne subis= (_L._) _Bd._ PURPLE MARTIN.—Common about Bayou Sara
and St. Francisville.
30. =Stelgidopteryx serripennis= (_Aud._) _Bd._ ROUGH-WINGED
SWALLOW.—Very abundant. Beginning to breed. Several holes examined but
no eggs found. One was shot out of a dead tree.
31. =Pyranga æstiva= (_L._) _V._ SUMMER REDBIRD.—Abundant about
dwellings and open ground. In song.
32. =Passerculus sandwichensis savanna= (_Wils._) _Ridgw._ SAVANNA
SPARROW.—Common in old wet fields. One individual captured, a female,
had a very large tumor on the bill and several smaller ones on the
toes.
33. =Zonotrichia albicollis= (_Gm._) _Bp._ WHITE-THROATED
SPARROW.—Abundant in parties of six or eight in the undergrowth about
open places in the low lands.
34. =Peucæa æstivalis illinoensis= _Ridgw._ OAK-WOODS SPARROW.—Two
specimens of this interesting form were taken; both males. One was
shot from the top of a small bush near the edge of an old corn field;
the other from the top of an isolated pine on the edge of a cotton
field. Both were singing when shot. No others were observed. This, I
believe, is the most southeasterly “record” of the form.
35. =Melospiza palustris= (_Wils._) _Bd._ SWAMP SPARROW.—Not uncommon
in the usual places.
36. =Pipilo erythrophthalmus= (_L._) _V._ CHEWINK; TOWHEE.— Abundant.
Locally known as the “Joree.”
37. =Cardinalis virginianus= (_Briss._) _Bp._ CARDINAL GROSBEAK.—Very
abundant. Took a set of three fresh eggs on the 17th. Nest as usual.
38. =Passerina cyanea= (_L._) _Gray._ INDIGO BUNTING.—Rather common
about open places, but very shy. Not in song.
39. =Passerina ciris= (_L._) _Gray._ PAINTED BUNTING; NONPAREIL.—First
seen on the 16th. A male in full song captured on the 19th—the only
two seen. Mr. Wederstraudt, who has trapped them, using a captive male
as a decoy, says that the same individual is always to be found within
a few hundred feet of the place where first observed. I saw several
males in confinement in New Orleans, and observed that the red of the
underparts was heavily blotched and obscured by yellow, and attributed
it to immaturity, but was informed that it was due to the confinement.
They are called “Pops” here, the derivation of which name I could not
make out.
40. =Agelæus phœniceus= (_L._) _V._ RED-AND-BUFF-SHOULDERED
BLACKBIRD.—Abundant in swampy places.
41. =Sturnella magna= (_L._) _Sw._ MEADOW LARK.—Common in old fields.
Their note seemed to me to be different from that of the Kentucky
bird.
42. =Icterus spurius= (_L._) _Bp._ ORCHARD ORIOLE.—Common about open
ground.
43. =Icterus galbula= (_L._) _Coues_. BALTIMORE ORIOLE.—Observed
several singing in shade trees in Bayou Sara and St. Francisville.
44. =Quiscalus purpureus= (_Bartr._) _Licht._ PURPLE GRACKLE.—A common
Grackle about the river and bayou at Bayou Sara is referred to this
form, as the one found forty or fifty miles down the river is
according to Dr. Langdon the Purple, and not the Bronzed Grackle.
45. =Corvus frugivorus= _Bartr._ COMMON CROW.—Common.
46. =Cyanocitta cristata= (_L._) _Strickl._ BLUE JAY.—Common.
47. =Tyrannus carolinensis= (_L._) _Temm._ KINGBIRD; BEE
MARTIN.—Common.
48. =Myiarchus crinitus= (_L._) _Cab._ GREAT-CRESTED FLYCATCHER.—A
common and conspicuous inhabitant of yards and orchards.
49. =Contopus virens= (_L._) _Cab._ WOOD PEWEE.—Common in dense
timber.
50. =Empidonax acadicus= (_Gm._) _Bd._ ACADIAN FLYCATCHER.—Common in
same places as last.
51. =Trochilus colubris= _L._ RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD.—Very abundant
about cultivated ground.
52. =Chætura pelasgica= (_L._) _Boie_. CHIMNEY SWIFT.—Common.
53. =Antrostomus carolinensis= (_Gm._) _Gould_.
CHUCK-WILL’S-WIDOW.—Heard but one, on the night of the 19th, near the
house, but I am told that they are quite common.
54. =Chordeiles popetue= (_V._) _Bd._ NIGHT HAWK.—Saw one about dusk
on the evening of the 19th, high in air, giving the peculiar call
common to the males during the breeding season.
55. =Picus pubescens= (_L._) DOWNY WOODPECKER.—Only two individuals
were observed during my visit.
56. =Hylotomus pileatus= (_L._) _Bd._ PILEATED WOODPECKER.—Not
observed, but it is said to be common in heavy timber along the
borders of the swamp.
57. =Centurus carolinensis= (_L._) _Bp._ RED-BELLIED
WOODPECKER.—Rather common. At the time of my departure a pair had
begun digging a hole for their nest in a large china tree within
thirty yards of the house.
58. =Melanerpes erythrocephalus= (_L._) _Sw._ RED-HEADED WOODPECKER—A
familiar and common bird here; preferring open to densely wooded
country.
59. =Colaptes auratus= (_L._) _Sw._ YELLOW-SHAFTED FLICKER.—Not
observed. Mr. Wederstraudt and others pronounce it an abundant bird
here.
60. =Ceryle alcyon= (_L._) _Boie_. BELTED KINGFISHER.—Common in open
places along Alexander’s Creek and its branches. A clutch of six fresh
eggs was taken from a hole in a perpendicular bank on the 16th. The
orifice was about thirty-five feet from the bottom, and three and a
half from the top of the bank. The hole extended horizontally into the
bank for a distance of six feet. The old birds circled around a few
times after we began digging for the eggs, and then flew off,
apparently unconcerned at our operations.
61. =Coccyzus americanus= (_L._) _Bp._ YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO.—One
individual observed on the 19th in a large live-oak near the house. In
song.
62. =Conurus carolinensis= (_L._) _Kuhl._ CAROLINA PARAKEET.—Not seen
by me. Gov. Wickliffe says that twenty years ago it was quite common
here at times in large flocks, and Mr. Wederstraudt has several times
observed it within the last few years, but never more than two or
three together at a time. About eighteen months ago he saw one in an
orchard near “Wyoming.”
63. =Scops asio= (_L._) _Bp._ LITTLE SCREECH OWL.—Found here,
according to Mr. Wederstraudt.
64. =Bubo virginianus= (_Gm._) _Bp._ GREAT HORNED OWL.—Given as a
common inhabitant by Mr. Wederstraudt.
65. =Pandion haliaëtus carolinensis= (_Gm._) _Ridgw._ AMERICAN OSPREY;
FISH HAWK.—Often seen here, according to the natives.
66. =Haliaëtus leucocephalus= (_L._) _Savig._ BALD EAGLE.—Said to
occasionally occur here.
67. =Cathartes aura= (_L._) _Illig._ TURKEY BUZZARD.—Common.
68. =Catharista atrata= (_Wils._) _Less._ BLACK VULTURE; CARRION
CROW.—Very abundant. I flushed thirty or forty, one day, from the
carcass of a dead horse.
69. =Zenaidura carolinensis= (_L._) _Bp._ MOURNING DOVE.—Abundant
about open places. I took a clutch of two fresh eggs on the 19th from
a nest on a horizontal limb of a water oak, eight feet from the
ground.
70. =Ortyx virginianus= (_L._) _Bp._ BOB WHITE; AMERICAN
QUAIL.—Abundant in pairs about cultivated ground. They are not much
hunted here as the shooting is very difficult, for when flushed they
immediately make for the thickets.
71. =Ardea herodias= (_L._) GREAT BLUE HERON.—One was seen on the 19th
flying towards the swamp
72. =Herodias alba egretta= (_Gm._) _Ridgw._ AMERICAN EGRET.—A flock
of eight was observed on the 19th flying towards the swamp.
73. =Butorides virescens= (_L._) _Bp._ GREEN HERON.—A common bird
about the creeks and ponds.
74. =Oxyechus vociferus= (_L._) _Reich._ KILLDEER.—Saw a party of
eight on the creek. They were very tame.
75. =Philohela minor= (_Gm._) _Gray._ AMERICAN WOODCOCK.—Not observed.
Said to be common here in the fall, when they are hunted in the cotton
fields at night with torches.
76. =Gallinago media wilsoni= (_Temm._) _Ridgw._ WILSON’S SNIPE.—Not
observed, but said to be common here in early spring.
77. =Rhyacophilus solitarius= (_Wils._) _Cass._ SOLITARY
SANDPIPER.—Two individuals were several times noted about a pond of
stagnant water.
78. =Tringoides macularius= (_L._) _Gray._ SPOTTED SANDPIPER.—Several
times observed along the creeks.
79. =Rallus elegans= _Aud._ RED-BREASTED RAIL.—One several times seen
in a small pond thickly overgrown with small trees, water-lillies etc.
80. =Rallus virginianus= _L._ VIRGINIA RAIL.—One seen in same place as
the last. Both eluded capture.
81. =Fulica americana= _Gm._ AMERICAN COOT.—Not observed, but said to
be common here in fall and early spring. Known here by the Creole name
of “Poulette d’Eau.”
82. =Anas boschas= _L._ MALLARD.—Not observed, but it is said to be
common here during the migrations.
83. =Querquedula discors= (_L._) _Steph._ BLUE-WINGED TEAL.—Two were
shot out of a flock of eight on the 16th on Alexander’s Creek.
84. =Aix sponsa= (_L._) _Boie_. WOOD DUCK; SUMMER DUCK.—Not observed,
but common in the swamp, I am informed.
85. =Pelecanus fuscus= (_L._) BROWN PELICAN.—Said to breed in the
lakes above Bayou Sara.
86. =Podilymbus podiceps= (_L._) _Lawr._ THICK-BILLED GREBE.—Not
observed, but well known here.
LIST OF BIRDS OBSERVED AT HOUSTON, HARRIS CO., TEXAS, AND IN THE
COUNTIES MONTGOMERY, GALVESTON AND FORD BEND.
BY H. NEHRLING.
(_Continued from p. 13._)
87. =Molothrus ater= _Gray._ COWBIRD.—Very abundant throughout the
year. They come in large flocks into the streets of the city in the
winter months to search for food; they also associate at that season
with _Scolecophagus cyanocephalus_ Cab. I have never seen anywhere
else such numbers of these birds as here, and in the breeding season
most of the nests of our small birds contain eggs of this parasite.
87_a_. =Molothrus ater obscurus= _Coues_. DWARF COWBIRD.—A common bird
during the breeding season. It is smaller than its near relative, and
quicker in its motions. Moves usually in flocks of from two to ten. I
first observed the bird when it was just leaving the nest of
_Lanivireo flavifrons_ Bd., and found its egg in it, besides four of
the Vireo’s. The egg is smaller and not so thickly sprinkled as that
of the common Cowbird.
88. =Xanthocephalus icterocephalus= _Bd._ YELLOW-HEADED
BLACKBIRD.—Very common in marshy localities from the latter part of
October to March and April. I think some remain to breed, as I
observed small flocks during May in the low prairie districts
overgrown with reeds and other water plants. The best opportunity I
ever had to study the breeding habits of this beautiful but very
locally distributed Blackbird was in the Calumet Marshes near
Kensington, about eighteen miles south of Chicago, where I discovered
in a single day about fifty nests among the reeds. During the winter
months they associate with _Molothrus ater_, _Agelæus phœniceus_, and
_Scolecophagus cyanocephalus_; many migrate further south, and in cold
winters only a few remain near Houston.
89. =Agelæus phœniceus= _Vieill._ RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD.—Common in
swamps, but not so abundant as I have found these birds to be in
Wisconsin and Illinois. May 6, 1881, I discovered a nest in a somewhat
strange position, in a blackberry-bush (_Rubus villosus_) on the edge
of a thicket; there was no swamp within a mile. This was in the
northern part of Harris County. Only a few remain to winter, the
greater part migrating farther south.
90. =Sturnella magna= _Swains._ MEADOW LARK.—Common summer sojourner,
and very abundant during winter; many thousands are killed in the
latter season by pot hunters. During summer the Meadow Lark is
strictly a prairie bird, always to be looked for on the open grassy
savannas; I never found the bird breeding in a cotton field or corn
field. In winter, however, they change their habits, and in large
flocks visit the sugar-cane, cotton, and corn fields.
91. =Icterus spurius= _Bp._ ORCHARD ORIOLE.—Common during migrations.
91_a_. =Icterus spurius affinis= _Coues_. SOUTHERN ORCHARD
ORIOLE.—Very common summer sojourner; breeds in all suitable
localities, especially in peach gardens. The bird is decidedly smaller
than the northern variety; it is also more active and quicker in its
motions. The song is much more varied, and louder, quicker and more
beautiful, reminding one of the song of the Baltimore Oriole. The nest
is smaller, but it is built of the same materials—green grasses, lined
with cotton. May 8, 1881, I discovered a very curious but not quite
finished nest near Spring Creek, only a few yards from a dwelling. For
several days I had observed a pair of these birds carrying fresh green
grasses to a laurel oak (_Quercus imbricaria_), that was densely
covered with large hanging bunches of Spanish moss (_Tillandsia
usneoides_); they disappeared every time into a bunch of moss, yet I
could see no nest. At last, on taking down the bunch of moss, I was
surprised to find a beautiful structure in my hands. The grasses and
moss were all woven firmly together; the entrance was on the side.
92. =Scolecophagus ferrugineus= _Swains._ RUSTY BLACKBIRD.—Very rare.
A few seen in March, 1881, among flocks of the following species.
93. =Scolecophagus cyanocephalus= _Cab._ BREWER’S BLACKBIRD.—During
winter the most common of the family _Icteridæ_. They are very
abundant in Houston from the early part of November to April, when
they disappear for the north; by the end of that month only a few
remain to breed in suitable localities. I found several nests May 5,
1881, in thick, small oaks near the Rose Hill Post Office in the
northern part of Harris County. They were built in the tops of young
post oaks (_Quercus obtusiloba_), about twelve to fifteen feet from
the ground, and contained from two to five eggs each. The nests were
composed exteriorly of strong slender plant stems and coarse grasses,
and were lined with fine grasses. These birds are very unsuspicious
and bold during winter, running about in even the most crowded city
streets, and also frequenting door-yards. On cold days they are easily
caught. I had a pair over a year in a cage; they soon became
reconciled to confinement, and were lively, interesting pets.