490 NORTU AMERICAN BIRDS. 



them on Devil's Eiver, in Texas, where his attention was at first directed 

 to them by their very peculiar note, which, when first heard, suggested 

 to him the cry of some species of squirrel. In the valley of the Lower liio 

 Grande he also met with these birds in companies of a dozen or more. Their 

 food, on the prairies, api)eared to be entirely insectivorous ; while on the 

 Lower Eio (irande all the si)ecimens that were procured had their bills 

 stained with the berries of tlie opuntia. They were not shy, and would 

 rather get out of the way by running than by flying. At no time, and uiuler 

 no circumstances, were they known to alight in bushes or in trees. They 

 were only known to make mere scratches in the ground for nests, and their 

 situations were very carelessly selected. Young birds were found in June 

 and in July. 



Lieutenant Couch first met with this species about sixty leagues west of 

 Matamoras, and not until I'ree from the prairies and bottom-land. It was 

 occasionally noticed, apparently associating with the Ortyx texana, to which 

 it is very similar in habit. 



Dr. Kennerly found them everywhere where there was a permanent supply 

 of fresh water, from Limpia Creek, in Te.xas, to San Bernardino, in Sonora. 

 They were met with on the mountain-sides, or on the hiUs among the low 

 mesquite-bushes and ban-ea. They apparently rely more upon their legs 

 than upon their wings, ascending the most precipitous cliffs or disappearing 

 among the bushes with great rapidity. 



The most western point at which Dr. Heermanu observed this species was 

 the San Pedro River, a branch of the Gila, east of Tucson. There a flock of 

 these birds ran before him at a quick pace, with outstretched necks, heads 

 elevated, crests erect and expanded, and soon disappeared among the thick 

 bushes that surrounded them on all sides. After that they were seen occasion- 

 ally until they arrived at Lympia Springs. Lieutenant Barton informed Dr. 

 Heermann that he had procured this species near Fort Clark, one hundred 

 and twenty miles west of San Antonio, where, however, it was quite rare. 

 It was found abundantly on the open plains, often starting up before the 

 party when passing over the most arid portions of the route. They also 

 seemed partial to the prairie-dog villages. These, covering large tracts of 

 ground destitute of vegetation, probably offered the attraction of some 

 favorite insect. 



Dr. Woodhouse met with this species on only one occasion, as the party 

 was passing up the Rio Grande, at the upper end of YaUeverde, on the west 

 side of the river, on the edge of the sand-hills, feeding among the low bushes. 

 They were exceedingly shy and quick-footed. He tried in vain to make 

 them fly, and they evidently preferred their feet to their wings as a means 

 of escape. He was told that they were found above Santa Fe. 



Mr. Dresser found this species on the Rio Grande above Roma, and be- 

 tween the Rio Grande and the Nueces they were quite abundant ; wherever 

 foTind, they seemed to have the country to themselves to the exclusion of 



