ICTERID Ji — THE ORIOLES. 209 



Eagle Pass and at Santa Rosalie, where Lieutenant (,'om-li lnund tlieui livino- 

 about the ranches and tlie cattle-yards. 



Mr. Dresser, on his arrival at Alatamoras, in July, noticed tliese birds in 

 the streets of tiiat town, in company with tlie Long-tailed Grakles Q. macru- 

 rus and 3Iu/ulhrus pecoris. He was told by the Mexicans that they breed 

 there, but it was too late to procure their eggs. lu the winter vast flocks 

 frequented tlie roads near by, as well as the streets of Sau Antonio and Eagle 

 Pass. Tliey were as tame as European Sparrows. Their note, wlien on the 

 wing, was a low wliistle. When congregated in trees, they kept up an inces- 

 sant cliattering. 



Dr. Cones found them permanent residents of Arizona, and exceedingly 

 abundant. It was the typical Blackbird of Fort Whij)23le, though few proba- 

 bly breed in tlie immediate vicinity. Towards the end of September they 

 become very numerous, and remain so until May, after whicli few are ob- 

 served till the fall. They congregate in immense flocks al)0ut tlie corrals, 

 and are tame and familiar. Their note, he says, is a liarsh, rasping squeak, 

 varied by a melodious, ringing whistle. I am indebted to this observing 

 ornithologist for the following sketch of their peculiar characteristics : — 



" Brewer's Blackbird is resident in Arizona, the most abundant liii'd of its 

 family, and one of the most characteristic species of the Territory. It ap- 

 pears about Fort Whipple in flocks in September; tlie numbers are aug- 

 mented during the following month, and there is little or no diminution 

 until May, when the flocks disperse to breed. 



"The nest is placed in tlie fork of a large bush or tree, sometimes at the 

 height of twenty or thirty feet, and is a bulky structure, not distantly resem- 

 bling a miniature Crow's nest, but it is conqiaratiN-ely deeper and more com- 

 pactly built. A great quantity of short, crooked twigs are brought together 

 and interlaced to form the basement and outer wall, and with these is 

 matted a variety of softer material, as weed-stalks, fibrous roots, and dried 

 grasses. A little mud may be ibund mixed with the other material, but it 

 is not plastered on in any quantity, and often seems to be merely what ad- 

 hered to the roots or plant-stems that were used. The nest is finished 

 inside with a quantity of liair. The eggs are altogether different from those 

 of the Quisca/i and Agchci, and resemble those of the Yellow-headed and 

 Kusty Orakles. Tliey \-ary in number from four to six, and measure barely 

 an inch in length b}' about three fourths as much in breadth. The ground- 

 color is dull oli^•aceous-gray, sometimes a paler, clearer bluish or greenish 

 gray, thickly spattered all over witli small spots of bro^^•n, from very dark 

 blackish-brown or chocolate to liglit umber. These markings, none of 

 great size, are very irregular in outline, though jjrobably never becoming 

 line-tracery ; and tliey vary indefinitely in number, being sometimes so 

 crowded that tlie egg ajipears of an almost uniform brownish color. 



"In this region the Blackbirds play the same part in nature's economy 

 that the Yellow-headed Troupial does in some other parts of the West, and 



VOL. II, 27 



