138 BULLETIN OF THE 



ICTERID^I. 



22. Molothrus pecoris. Common in the timber, and frequent on the 

 plains ten to fifteen miles from the nearest trees. 



23. Xanthocephalus icteroceplialus. A small flock seen at intervals 

 about the corral at Fort Hays during our whole stay there. They probably 

 bred in the vicinity. 



24. Quiscalus purpureus. Abundant along Big Creek at Fort Hays. 

 Nests with newly hatched young were found June 1st, and others with 

 fresh eggs as late as June 12th. A nest was found in an old woodpecker's 

 hole, the top of which had been broken off", June 8th, containing two eggs, 

 and two young just hatched. A few twigs and rootlets had been laid on 

 the rotten wood to serve for a nest. Mr. William Brewster informs me 

 he has known this species to breed in a woodpecker's hole in Maine, — a 

 rather strange departure from its usual habits, considering its long tail, 

 which would seem to be an impediment to such a mode of nesting. 



25. Icterus Baltimore. Common in the timber. All the specimens 

 obtained on Big Creek had much more white on the edges of the quills 

 than eastern birds, the middle coverts in the males being entirely white or 

 only faintly stained with yellow, instead of deep yellow or orange as in the 

 eastern birds. The specimens of this bird collected at Topeka and Leaven- 

 worth are in this respect about half-way between the Fort Hays specimens 

 and those from the Eastern States. All the Kansas specimens are smaller 

 than average New England ones, and have the bill relatively longer, 

 slenderer, and more decurved. The females were also uniformly without 

 black on the throat and head. 



26. Icterus spurius. Abundant in the timber on the Reservation at 

 Fort Hays. Full sets of fresh eggs were taken every day from June 6th 



to 10th. 



27. Sturnella ludoviciana, var. neglecta. Abundant. The eight 

 specimens taken were all very pale, or of the S. neglecta type. Song 

 shorter, the notes more guttural and less ringing than those of this bird 

 are on the prairies of Iowa, Northern Missouri, and Eastern Kansas, over 

 which regions the neglecta type of plumage also prevails. A single nest 

 found May 30th. It was open at the top, and rather slovenly made. 



CORVIDiE. 



28. Corvus corax. Only a few pairs seen, though reputed to be 

 common. 



29. Cyanura cristata. Abundant in the timber. 



TYRANNID^. 



30. Tyrannus carolinensis. Abundant in the vicinity of the timbered 

 streams. 



