Page:Notes on the Ornithology of Southern Texas.djvu/20

Rh which I do not know) growing to a height of about six feet, a nearly bare stem throwing out two or three irregular masses of leaves at the top 5 these bunches of dark green leaves conceal the nest admirably j it is constructed of filaments of the hair-like moss just referred to, with a little Spanish moss, wool, or a few feathers for the lining ; they are rather wide and shallow for Orioles 7 nests, and, though strong, they appear thin and delicate. A few pairs build in Spanish bayonets ( Yucca) growing on sand ridges in the salt prairies ; here the nests are built chiefly of the dry, tough fibres of the plant, with a little wool or thistle- down as lining ; they are placed among the dead and depressed leaves, two or three of which are used as supports. A large series of eggs now before me are quite characteristic, and can readily be distinguished from eggs of our other Orioles by the absence of irregular blotches and pen-marks and by the white or very slightly bluish ground-color. The markings are chiefly at the larger end in an irregular ring of spots of varying shades of brown and lilac. Some sets are precisely like large Yireos' eggs. The average size is .82 by .59, with comparatively little variation.— (Sennett, B. Eio Grande, 25.)

93. * Icterus bullocki, Swains. ,

Common summer visitant. The breeding habits of this bird are quite unlike those of the Hooded Oriole. Instead of concealing its nest admirably in bunches of leaves or hanging moss, it is conspicuously placed at the extremity of an upper branch of a mesquite or ratama tree, usually at the edge of a prairie or near houses. One set of eggs has the ground-color a beautiful pinkish buff. — (Sennett, B. Eio Grande, 25.)

94. Icterus baltimore, (Linn.)

Two specimens taken in April. I think that Mr. Dresser is in error in stating in the Ibis that this Oriole breeds at Matamoras. — (Dresser^ Ibis, 1865, 493.)

95. * Icterus spurius var. affinis, Lawr.

This small race of the Orchard Oriole is found rather plentifully from the latter part of March until August. Nests found here are much smaller than Eastern ones ; in size and shape, they are more like Vireos ? . This species and Bullock's are frequently found breeding in small, irregular colonies composed of both species ; the Hooded Oriole does the same, but with individuals of its own species only. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 493.— Sennett, B. Rio Grande, 25.)

96. Scolecophagus cyanocephalus, (Wagl.)

brewer's Blackbird is very abundant from about the first week in October until April.— (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 493.— Sennett, B. Eio Grande, 27.)

97. * Quiscalus macrurus, Swains.

This handsome Grackle is a very common resident, and large numbers