1887.] PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 671 



166. Sturnella magna neglecta (Aud.). Western Meailow-lark, 



One of the cotnmouest birds I encountered in Texas. At Corpus 

 Cliristi, Beeville, and San Antonio I often saw it in tlio streets and gar- 

 dens, almost as mucli at home as Brewer's Blackbirds. The first song- 

 heard was on February 27 at San Antonio, after which time they sang 

 a great deal. A specimen from Beeville is like typical negUctam every 

 respect except the coloration of the upper parts, which is quite indis- 

 tinguishable from the eastern bird. "Very common in the winter at 

 San Antonio and a few remain there to breed" (Dresser). Brown re- 

 ports it as abundant at Boerne. 



Genus ICTERUS BiussoN. 



167. Icterus spurius (LiNxV.). Orchard Oriole. 



Dresser found this Oriole very common near San Antonio during the 

 summer, arrivingearly in April, and Brown saw one individual at Boerne 

 early in April. Hancock notes it as a "common resident" at Corpus 

 Christi— but " summer resident" is evidently intended. 



168. Icterus galbula (Lixx.). Baltimore Oriole. 



Dresser did not see this bird at San Antonio, but there is a record of 

 its occurrence there in the report of the Mexican Boundary Survey vol. 

 ii, page 19. Dresser records it as abundant on the lower Eio Grande, 

 but this is probably an error as Dr. Merrill records but two specimens 

 as seen by himself at Brownsville. 



169. Icterus bullocki (Swains.). Bullock's Oriole. 



Hancock's list contains the only record of the occurrence of this species 

 within the limits of this paper. He says : "A summer resident in suit- 

 able localities. A nest with five eggs was taken April 7." 



Geuus SCOLECOPHAGUS Swaixson. 



170. Scolecophagus cyanocephalus (Wagl.). Brewer's Blackbird. 



One of the most interesting bird acquaintances I made in Texas, where 

 it was abundant at all of the places visited except Leon Springs. At 

 Corpus Christi it shares with the Great-tailed Crackle the office of city 

 scavenger. In the streets there and at Beeville it is as common as the 

 European Sparrow in an eastern town, and quite as fearless and inde- 

 pendent. While I do not think their services as a street-cleaning de- 

 partment are properly appreciated, still they are regarded with favor 

 by the towns-people, and are not molested at all. Outside of the towns 

 they were occasionally seen, but were as wary as Blackbirds usually are. 

 Hancock makes no mention of their occurrence at Corpus Christi ; a 

 palpable oversight, as he could not have failed seeing them. At San 

 Antonio they were common, but I only saw them in the suburbs and 

 occasionally in the parks. Dresser also notes it as occurring there in 

 winter. Brown found them in great abundance at Boerne. 



