FRINGILLID.E — TllK FIXCHES. 97 



the United States were observed by Captain McCown uf the U. S. Anuv, 

 at Einggold Barracks, in Texas. Since then it has been procured by se\-eral 

 of the naturalists accompanying the government expeditious. It was ob- 

 tained in New Leon, ^lexico, by Lieutenant Couch ; in Texas, by Major 

 Emory ; in Texas and at El Paso, by Lieutenant Parke. 



"When first seen, in jMarch, in tlie State of Tamaulipas, by Lieutenant 

 Couch, it was in flocks, very shy and difficult of approach. It did not occur 

 much in open fields, but seemed to prefer the vicinity of fences and bushes. 

 It was often seen in company with the common Cardinal. 



Dr. Kennedy found this bird quite abundant in tlie vicinity of El Paso, 

 but did not observe it elsewjiere. It kept generally in flocks of from three 

 to six, frequenting the hedges and fruit-trees in the vicinity of houses. It 

 became very restless when approached, flying from branch to brancli and 

 from tree to tree, uttering its peculiar note with great vehemence. 



Dr. Heerniann met with the first specimen of this bird in a dry canon, a 

 little to tlie east of the crossing of Sau Pedro River. It was perched on a 

 bush, seemed wearied and lost, and was probably a wanderer. No more were 

 seen until lie reached El Paso. There he found it every^vhere among the 

 hedges and trees, and continued to meet with it occasionally on his road, 

 until his party left civilization behind. It erects its crest as it moves active- 

 ly about in search of food, and utters at intervals a clear, plaintive whistle, 

 varied by a few detached notes. 



Mr. Dresser considers this species rather a straggler from Mexico than as a 

 Texan bird. Near Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras he found it abundant, but 

 it became scarce as soon as he travelled a few miles into Texas. He saw none 

 north or east of the Leona. He was told that (juantities breed near Eagle 

 Pass, and he saw not a few in cages that had been reared from the nest. 

 He found it a shy bird, and difficult to shoot. When followed, it flies about 

 uneasily, perching on tlie top of some high bush, and erecting its long crest, 

 uttering a clear, plaintive whistle. Sometimes it would take to the thick 

 brushwood and creep through the bushes so that it was imjjossible to get a 

 shot at it. On the Lower Rio Grande it was of uncommon occurrence. He 

 noticed a single pair near Matamoras in August, 1864. 



Captain McCown, in his account of this species, published by Cassin, 

 writes that, so far as seen on the Rio Grande, this handsome species appeared 

 to have a strong partiality for damp and bushy woods. So far as he obser\^ed, 

 it ne\'er ventured far from the river. He was under the impression that this 

 bird remains in Texas all tlie year, having met with it so late in the fall and 

 again so early in the spring, that, if not constantly resident, its migrations 

 must be very limited. He describes it as a gay, spriglitly bird, generally 

 seen in company with others of the same species, frequently erecting its 

 cre.st and calling to its mate or comi-ades. It is rather shy, and not easil)' 

 approached. In its voice and general habits it appeared to him very similar 

 to the common species. 



VOL. II, 13 



