Page:Notes on the Ornithology of Southern Texas.djvu/13

128 72. Peucaea cassini, (Woodh.)

Arrives about the middle of March, its sweet song attracting atten- tion at once. Found in rather open chaparral, but usually keeping in thick bushes, where alone it permits a near approach. It usually sings while hidden in some bush, and, I think, rarely utters its notes on the wing unless the female is sitting. Its nest is difficult to find 5 three, taken April 28, and May 4 and 22, 1877, respectively, were placed at the foot of small bushes and scarcely raised from the ground. They were composed of dried grasses, lined with finer ones and a few hairs, but were very frail. Thirteen eggs taken from these nests are pure white, and average .74 by .57. Feet and legs are peculiarly light yellowish- white; bill pale horn-color, darker above; iris light hazel. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 489.— Bennett, B. Eio Grande, 18.)

73. Embernagra rufivirgata, Lawr.

A common resident, frequenting thickets and brush-fences, and per- mitting a close approach. The only note I have heard, besides a chip of alarm, is a repeated cMp-chip-chip, begun slowly, but rapidly increas- ing till the notes run into each other. I have found the nests with eggs at intervals from May 9 to September 7. These are placed in low bushes, rarely more than three feet from the ground : the nests are rather large, composed of twigs and straws, and lined with finer straws and hairs; they are practically domed, the nests being placed rather obliquely, and the part above the entrance being somewhat built out. The eggs are from two to four in number : thirty-two average .88 by .65, the extremes being .97 by .67 and .81 by .61 ; they are pure white. Two, and probably three, broods are raised in a season. — (Sennett, B. Eio Grande, 22.)

74. Calamospiza bicolor, (Towns.)

Bather common during the winter months. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 490.)

75. Euspiza americana, (Gmel.)

Common during the spring migration of 1877. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 490. — Sennett, B. Eio Grande, 19.)

76. *Guiraca caerulea, (Linn.)

A rather common summer visitor, four or five pairs having nests in patches of tall weeds on the reservation.— (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 491. — Goniaphea c, Sennett, B. Eio Grande, 19.)

77. Cyanospiza cyanea, (Linn.)

Not rare in April and May.

78. Cyanospiza versicolor, (Bonap.)

First taken April 23, 1877. This beautiful species seems to be rather abundant in this vicinity, frequenting mesquite chaparral. Its song has some resemblance to that of the Indigo-bird, and is constantly uttered. I did not succeed in finding any nests.