PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 121 



11. Auiiparus flaviceps, (Sund.) 



I have not observed this species iu the immediate vicinity of Fort 

 Brown, but it was rather common at Edinburgh in April and May, fre- 

 quenting mostly amargosa chaparral. Several of its curious nests were 

 found placed on horizontal branches of ebony and amargosa bushes 

 about five feet from the ground. The outside w^as cou)posed of thorny 

 twigs well interlaced: the inside was warmly lined with fur and feath- 

 ers. The entrance was at one side, barely large enough to admit the 

 bird, and somewhat projecting, giving the entire nest an oval shape. 

 The birds were excessively shy, and were obtained with difficulty. — (Sen- 

 NETT, B. Rio Grande, 6.) 



12. * Thryothorus ludovicianus rar. berlandieri, Conch. 



A rather common resident, and Ibund in ail situations. Its song and 

 habits are probably not diflerent from those of the Great Carolina Wren. 

 Although several pairs breed each year within the fort, I did not succeed 

 in finding their nests, which I think were placed in some thick brush 

 piles and lences. At least two broods are raised, and the scarcely 

 fledged young show the characteristic rufous of the under parts. A 

 set of four eggs of this variety now before me, taken near Edinburgh in 

 an old Woodpecker's excavation, average .73 X .54. In three, the ground- 

 color is white with a reddish tinge, thickly dotted with reddish and pale 

 lilac, especially at the larger end. The fourth has the ground color a 

 warm reddish, like many eggs of the House Wren. A young brood fre- 

 quented a pile of brush near camp at Edinburgh : they were very tame, 

 coming into my tent and examining its contents with the greatest inter- 

 est, not minding my presence in the least. The notes are loud and 

 varied, but I am not able to say how much they may differ from those 

 of var. ludomcianus. — {T. ludovicianus berlandieri, Sennett, B. Rio 

 Grande, 8.) 



13. *Thryomanes bewicki rar. leucogaster, Baird. 



Thryothorus hewicki, Sch.,F. Z. S. 1659,372 (Oaxaca) ; Catal. 1861,22, No. 141 

 (part).— SCL. As SALV.,Nom. Neotr. 1873, 7, No. 11 (Mexico).— CouES & 

 Sennett, Bull. U. S. Geol. aud Geog. Survey Terr. vol. iv, No. 1, Feb. 1878, 

 9 (Brownsville and Hidalgo, Texas).* 



Thryothorus heu-icki var. leucogaster, Baird, Keview, 1864 127 (Sau Autonio 

 and Ringgold Barracks, Texas ; Sta. Rosalia, Tamaulipas, aud New Leon, 

 Mexico). 



* Mr. Sennett's specimens having been compared with the extensive series, embrac- 

 ing the several races of this species, in the National Museum collection, prove to be 

 the var. leucogaster of Baird, and not the true bewicki. The National Museum ])ossesses 

 two specimens of the latter from Waller County and Brazos, Texas, but none from the 

 Rio Grande, where probably only the var. leucogaster occurs, while it also probably 

 does not penetrate farther into the State. The two specimens of true bewicki alluded 

 to above were captured December 13 aud 14, 1876, aud were perhaps merely winter 

 visitors. They are absolutely typical of the race, and, when compared with Mr. Sen- 

 nett's specimens, the great difference in coloring is at once apparent. — R. R. 



