THE OLD GIST. 



53 



or note their anxiety. A third class will 

 remain upon their nests until bruslied a- 

 gaiust or almost trodden upon : to this class 

 belong some of the most demonstrative spe- 

 cies above mentioned. . In regard to the 

 behavior of birds when they perceive their 

 eggs to be discovered, it may be concisely 

 stated that it is usually the same as their 

 conduct prior to this event, but perhaps 

 more vehement ; — while with many species 

 this is the only time of demonstration ; as 

 tor instance, tlie Kutled Grouse never cries 

 until her eggs or young have been found. 



In order that notes for the current num- 

 bers of The Oologist may reach us in time 

 for publication, and that collectoi's may be 

 seasonably informed, it is desired that con- 

 tributions be sent as early as the iirst of the 

 month ; oological notes especially, will be 

 more acceptable if published as soon as pos- 

 sible after the observations have been made. 

 We would also state that tiie Aalue of this 

 journal as a repertory of ornithological in- 

 formation, can only be retained and aug- 

 mented by observers themselves tiironghout 

 the country ; and to these ends we invite 

 correspondence and authentic notes from all 

 (juarters. It is tlie aim of th^ journal to 

 stand at the head of oologi(;al magazines, 

 and to become something of an authority 

 on matters pertaining to the study ; this can 

 be accomplished, not by naturalists retain- 

 ing their notes and keeping them forever 

 concealed in the notebook, but by imparting 

 the information tlirough the proper chan- 

 nels. Therefore, let us not lack in scien- 

 tific value, what we may in other respects. 



The Great -tailed Crackle (Quis- 

 calus macrurus). 



;HP]N I think of this bird, it is always 

 with a smile. It is everywhere as 

 abundant on the Rio Grande as is 

 PatiHtr domesticus, P^nglish Sparrow, in our 

 northern cities, and, when about the habi- 



tations, equally as tame. This bird is as 

 much a part of the life of Brownsville as 

 the ballero rolling along his cask of water 

 or the mounted beggar going his dailv 

 rounds. In the towns or about the ranch- 

 es, he knows no fear ; is always noisy, nev- 

 er at rest, and in all places and positions ; 

 now making friends with the horses in the 

 barns or the cattle in the fields, then in some 

 tree pouring forth his notes, which I can 

 liken otdy to the scrapings of a "■ cornstalk- 

 Hddle" ; now stealing from porch or open 

 window some I'ibbon for his nest, then fol- 

 lowing close behind the planter, quick to 

 see the dropping corn. With all his bold- 

 ness and curiosity, the boys of the streets 

 say they cannot trap or catch him in a snare. 

 He will take every bait or grain but the 

 right one ; he will put his feet among all 

 sorts of rags but the right ones : and the 

 boys are comjjletely outwitted by a bird. 

 He performs all sorts of antics. The most 

 curious and laughable performance is a com- 

 mon one with him. Two males will take 

 position facing each othei' on the groimd or 

 upon some shed, then together begin slowly 

 raising their heads and twisting them most 

 comically from side to side, all the time 

 steadily eyeing each other, until their bills 

 not only stand perpendicular to their bodies, 

 but sometimes are thrown over nearly to 

 their backs. After maintaining this awk- 

 ward position for a time, they will gradu- 

 ally bring back their bills to their natural 

 position, and the performance ends. It is 

 somewhat after the fashion of clowns' do- 

 ings' in a circus, who slowly bend backward 

 until their heads touch their heels, then pro- 

 ceed to straighten up again. It is a most 

 amusing thing to see, and seems to be mere 

 fun fur the bird, for nothing serious grows 

 out of it. 



With all their familiarity, I have seen 

 these birds in the open chaparral as wild 

 and wary as other birds, knowing very well 

 when out of gunshot range. Th.eir flight is 

 rather slow, and when they make an as- 

 cent it is labored ; but once up, with their 

 great tails and expanse of wing they make 

 jrraceful descents. 



