238 NESTS AND EGGS OF 



fore me exhibit a wonderful diversity in their markings ; the ground 

 color is either white or creamy-white, and the common type is spotted 

 with rich umber and chestnut-red. The sizes vary from .80 to 1.05 in 

 length by .69 to .75 in breadth. The average size of forty specimens 

 is .97 x .70. Sometimes sets of these eggs are found almost wholly un- 

 marked. 



445. Tyrannus dominicensis (GMEL.) [303.] 



Gray Kingbird. 



Hab. South Carolina, Georgia and Florida; West Indies, coasts of the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of 

 Mexico. Accidental in Massachusetts. 



A larger species than the common Kingbird, but its general ap- 

 pearance, habits and nesting are the same. It is a common bird in the 

 West Indies, and is found regularly in Florida and northward to 

 Georgia, etc. Mr. Stuart states that it breeds in Florida in the months 

 of May and June, building for its nest a frail structure of dry twigs, 

 lined with a few roots, dead moss or fibrous plant stems ; it is placed 

 in low bushes or in trees at a considerable height. The favorite nest- 

 ing localities are along streams in live oaks. 



Usually three, sometimes four eggs are deposited ; they have a 

 ground color of a creamy, pinkish or rosy tint, spotted, blotched or* 

 dashed with umber-brown and lilac-gray. A set of three eggs in my 

 cabinet, taken near Tampa, Florida, May 20, 1885, measnre i.oox.75, 

 I.O2X.76, 1.04 x. 75; another set of three, taken near Thomasville, 

 Georgia, June 4, 1888, exhibit the following sizes : .99 x .70, i.oo x .72, " 

 i.oox.73- Mr. Norris has a set of four eggs, taken in Matee, Florida, 

 May 25; these measure . 97x^2, . 99X.82, . 97x70, . 97x74. 



446. Tyrannus melancholicus couchii (BAIRD) [305.] 



Couch's Kingbird* 



Hab. Northern portion of Central America, north through Mexico to southern border of the United 

 States (Southern Texas to Arizona). 



This is a common bird from Guatemala north through Mexico to 

 the southern border of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. It possesses 

 the same characteristics common to birds of its family. 



A nest and four fresh eggs are described by Mr. Sennett. * These, 

 together with both parents, were taken at Lornita Ranch, on the Rio 

 Grande, Texas, in 1881. The nest was situated some twenty feet from 

 the ground, on a small lateral branch of a large elm, in a grove not far 

 from houses. It was composed of small elm twigs, with a little Span- 

 ish moss, a few branchlets and leaves of the growing elm, lined with 

 fine rootlets and black hair-like heart of the Spanish moss. The out- 

 side diameter is 6 inches and the depth 2 inches ; inside diameter 

 3 and depth 1.25 inches. 



*Auk, I, p. 93. 



