Page:Condor12(3).djvu/13

 May, 1910 MISCELLANEOUS BIRD NOTES FROM THE LOWER RIO GRANDE 95 ones, in the Valley today. It is a mystery what the inducements are for their domestication. I would prefer Mudhen at any time as food. The farmyard fowl and Chachalaca interbreed freely, at least in the first instance, and the resultant hybrids surprise one by their variety. The Chachalaca keeps close to brush most of the time. A favorite location is heavy growth surrounding a resaca (old river- bed ponds] where water can be found easily. The muddy edge of the resaca usu- ally yields ample proof of the past presence of the birds in the countless imprints of feet. Old residents claim that the cold wave of 1898 had something to do with the present scarcity of the Chachalaca. On that fated day in February, when the temperature fell to 11 degrees above zero, and snow covered the ground for the entire day, thousands of Chachalacas perished, along with unnumbered other wild and domesticated animals. The Bobwhite of the region ( Cohus virginianus lexanus) is common thruout the Valley, even entering the City limits when the bottoms are flooded; but it is not sought after as game to the extent that the pigeons and doves are. Six species of Columbae are represented, and their great abundance is subject for comment. Immense flocks of Mourning Doves (Zenaidura macroura carolinenszk) arrive from the north, in late fall, to winter. The Ground Dove (ChamvlSeh'a ;3asserz3a ;3al- lescens), and the White-winged Dove (Melo;3elia asialica) also winter in greater or less abundance. But the White-fronted Dove (e;31olilafulwYenlrtk brachy;3- lera) appears to be absent during the months of November, December and January. This dove approaches the true pigeons in bulk, but is more eminently terrestrial than any of the seve?al pigeons, I am acquainted with. The White-fronted Dove is a slow moving bird on the ground and quite unsuspicious; and as it generally prefers to feed under growth of some sort, prove? an e_asy target for the pot-hunter. They seldom flock, rather preferring to remain in pairs at all times. They feed almost entirely on small herb and grass seed, rarely partaking of the mesquite or ebony bean. I have found them to breed only during May. The Green Jay (Yanlhoura luxuosa glaucescens) ranks above all its North American cousins in plumage, tho not in bearing. I have yet to find a species of crestless jay that is free of cowardly disposition or sneaky manner. It is born in them. The crested members of this group, as most of us well know, are no disciples of uprightness, but they can hide their faults, in large degree, by a dig- nified appearance. Unluckily, for the Green Jay, his feathers seem to accentuate his sins. It is a common bird west of Brownsville, but to the east of town is quite scarce--and I have never heard of it at the coast. Northward it extends to the Rio Coloral in limited numbers. It is another resident species, most at home in heavy growth along the river; altho from there it will oftenwander oreforaging expeditions, even inspecting rural barnyards when hunger be pressing. The Green Jay is the worst gourmand in its family; and this failing often causes it to lose its liberty. Its plumage makes it very attractive as a cage bird, and to secure one only requires a wicker cage, set in a conspicuous place and baited with meat of some kind; fitted with a trap door worked by a string held by some hidden Homo, who possesses the instinct to pull the string at the opportune moment. Captivity does not cur- tail the Jay's appetite, and they have been known to accept food immediately after being trapt. Indeed, this bird will eat all the time if food be accessible; and the indulgent owner finds it a matter of difficulty to keep the bird alive more than a week, but such individuals as are fed with discretion, live to make interesting, altho noisy pets. In a wild state, the Green Jay is suspicious as becomes the tribe, tho as a rule it falls to a ruse quite easily. If one be shot, the balance set up a din that can ordinarily only be stopt, either by shooting them all or decamping from the