122 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



A common resident about Fort Brown, but fifty or sixty miles higher 

 up the river it becomes less abundant. Few birds have a greater vari- 

 ety of notes than this species, and I have frequently been led by a 

 strange song through dense chaparral only to find this little bird 

 perched upon tbe topmost twig of an amargosa bush apparently enjoy- 

 ing my disappointment. Their principal song is much like that of the 

 Song Sparrow, but sweeter. It probably raises three broods, as I have 

 seen it leading fully fledged young as early as March 27. Its nests are 

 placed in a variety of situations. I have found them in an old Wood- 

 pecker's nest, placed between three or four joints of the prickly pear, 

 forming a bulky structure, and among the twigs of various dense 

 thorny bushes. A set of six eggs, now before me, average .G8 x .50, 

 I have no eggs of var. bewicJcli at hand with which to compare them. 

 A second set of five, taken on the 2d of May from a nest among the 

 joints of a cactus, are smaller than the preceding, averaging .02 x .50 ; 

 the markings are much fainter and finer, and the two sets are quite 

 different in appearance. Three other sets taken subsequently vary 

 greatly in size and markings. In some, the latter are very fine and in 

 conspicuous; in others, there are heavy markings of reddish and lilac. 

 Thirty eggs average .63 by .45, the extremes being .70 by .52 and .60 

 by .46. 



Note, — The eggs of T. leucogaster, as compared with those of hewicki 

 and spilurus, exhibit many points in common, and do not vary more than 

 the eggs of the same species are often found to differ. Nine eggs of 

 the Texan form, leucogaster, are, in size, a trifle the largest, and all of 

 them are much more deeply marked with larger and more confluent 

 blotches of reddish-brown. In size, six eggs of hewicki, from Mount 

 Carmel, III,, collected by Mr. Ridgway, are not quite equal to leucogaster 

 and a little less strongly marked, the spots being nowhere confluent. 

 Five eggs of spilurus from California are still less in size, and their 

 markings are smaller, fewer, and of a lighter color, one being of an 

 almost immaculate white, — T. M. B. 



14. Troglodytes aedon, Vieill. 



Rather uncommon during the winter months. 



15. Troglodytes aedon rar. parkmanni.Aud. 



A single specimen of this variety was taken in the autumn of 1877. 



16. Telmatodytes palustris, (Wils.) 

 One obtained December 16, 1876. 



17. Anthus ludovicianus, (Gmel.) 



Very abundant from October to March. I have seen a few as late as 

 April 28.— (Deesser, Ibis, 1865, 476.) 



18. Mniotilta varia, (Linn.) 



Common during the migrations; a good many pass the winter. — 

 (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 476.) 



