672 BIRDS OF SOUTHWESTERN TEXAS. 



Genus QUISCALUS Vikillot. 



171. Quiscalus quiscula aeneus (Ridgw.). Bronzed Grackle. 



This Grackle was one of the most abiiudaiit winter birds I saw at San 

 Antonio and Jieeville; at the former i)hice it was particuhirly abnndant 

 in immense flocks along the river, and was very tame. Strange to say 

 no other observer in sonthwestern Texas appears to have seen the bird 

 at all. 1 did not observe it at Corpns Christi or Leon Springs. A few 

 were seen at San Antonio up to within a day or two of my departure. 



172. Quiscalus macrourus Swain.s. (ireat-tailcil Grackle. 



The habits of this clown-like bird have been so admirably " written 

 up " by Sennett in the first of his Rio Grande papers, that I can add 

 nothing to his interesting and accurate account. In the town of Corpus 

 Chvisti they were very abundant and as much at their ease and as impu- 

 dent as our avian Ishmaelite of the east and north, the always- with-us, 

 never-to-be-got-rid-of European Sparrow. But with all this apparent 

 tameuess it is one of the most knowing and wary birds I ever had to do 

 with. Of course, in town, if one had been permitted to fire a gun, 

 dozens could have been killed at a shot, but out in the chaparral, where 

 shooting was allowable, it was next to impossible to get within range. 

 Their thieving propensities have given them rather a bad name at Cor- 

 pus Christi amongst the people who overlook their great services as 

 scavengers. I did not see it at any other place, but was informed by 

 residents of Beeville that the Jackdaw is often seen there. 



Family FRI:N^G1LLID.^. Finches, Sparrows, etc. 

 Genus SPINUS Koch. 



173. Spinus tristis (Lixn.). American GokUiucli. 



I found the Goldfinch a rather common winter bird at San Antonio 

 and Dresser, quoting Dr. Heermann, says that it is not uncommon 

 there during the summer. Brown calls it a '' common winter visitant" 

 at Boerue. I did not see it at any place but San Antonio. 



Genus CALCARIUS Becustein. 



174. Calcarius oruatus (TowN.s.). Chestnut-collared Longspuv. 



This bird is found in flocks early in the spring on the })rairies near 

 San Antonio, but is not common according to Dresser. Brown says: 

 "This and the following species (22. mcoownii) apparently do not winter 

 here. I first met with them in the second week of February. They 

 were often associated together, sometimes with the addition of a few 

 Horned Larks. The present si)ecies, though not common, was the more 

 numerous and lingered later, being taken up to March 2." 



Genus RHYNCHOPHANES Baird. 



175. Rhynchophanes mccownii (Lawij.). McCown's Lougspur, 



" This bird is found in small flocks early in April near San Antonio. 

 It is not very numerous, and I only procured two specimens during my 



