74 



THE OOLOGIST 



lets and horse hair, measurments, 

 diam., 3^x1 in., depth 8x11 in., situ- 

 ated in tips of limb of tree 8 ft. above 

 road. Set 9-3 Dec. 30th. fresh, this was 

 the second set from the nest in the 

 bank of grass. Set 10-3 Feb. v)th, fresh 

 nest, fine roots, weed stems, skeleton 

 leaves, etc., in tips of slender bush 

 growing from mass uf Spanish bayonet, 

 on bank of road 10ft from ground. 



Set 11-3 Feb. 9th' fresh nest composed 

 of fine dead vines and situated in a 

 mass of some hanging from limbs of 

 tree by pasture fence. Was very in- 

 conspicuous. 



This bird is rather shy in its habits, is 

 not a close sitter when the nest is ap- 

 proached and will not come within 

 close distance of nest while intiuder is 

 by remaining most of the time conceal- 

 ed in bushes. 



Euethia brijectita. Not quite so com- 

 mon as preceeding. Though they were 

 undoubtedly breeding and though I 

 shot a female Jan. 30th containing an 

 egg nearly to be deposited, I failed to 

 locate a nest. 



Progne donimicensis . A few noted in 

 village just before our departure. 

 Would probably have become common 

 a little later. 



Vireo calidris. A few noted. 



Ccerorba porto ricensis. Abundant, 

 nests with eggs were taken Feb. 4th, 

 Feb. 7th, and 9th. In strncture and 

 location they are much like those of 

 Eutthra bicolor with the differences 

 noted in the description of that bird. 

 Three or two eggs is the common num- 

 her; I have taken but one set of four. 



Miniotilta varia. A few noted. Three 

 specimens taken. 



[Dendroica' ruficapilla must I think 

 occur but strange to say was not noted ) 



Dendroica coronata. Three specimens 

 in moulting plumage showing approach 

 of summer plumage, were taken. 



Dendroica discolor. Abundant. A 

 number of specimens taken. 



Compsothlypis americana. Abundant 



This and precepding were by far the 

 most comiiion w.-irblnrs 



Seinriis aurocapillns. Several noted. 

 One secured 



Seiurus molacilla. Noted a number 

 and secured two females and a male. 

 According to Prof. Richmond this bird 

 was recorded from Porto Rico, and I 

 gave him one cf the skins for the Smith- 

 sonian. 



Setophaga ruticilla. Secured two 

 males and noted seveial others. 



Minius polyglottos orpheus. Not 

 abundant when we went to Vieques but 

 becoming common and vociferous as 

 we came away. 



Margarops fusatus. Not uncommon 

 in the c reek bottoms but extremely shy 

 and secured with great difficulty keep- 

 ing mostly well concealed in trees and 

 bu.shes. Many of the notes of these 

 birds resemble certain notes of Robin 

 and of Wilson's Thrush in states and the 

 alarm cry is scarcely distinguishable 

 from that of the Catbird. I secured two 

 females Jan. 28th. 



(Mimocichla ardosicacea which I found 

 commonly on the main island was here 

 not noted but probably occurs ) 



Our Western Blackbirds 



499a California Blackbird {Agel- 

 ius califbrnicus: —Our western redwing, 

 formerly known as the Bicolored Black- 

 bird, is a common summer resident in 

 the marshe-i of Santa Clara Co. Cali- 

 fornia. The d.ate of their arrival here 

 in spring is usually about Mar. 1st, al- 

 though I have noted them a.s early as 

 Feb. 8th. and it is indeed a pleasant re- 

 minder of spring to hear their cheery 

 "quong-quei"-)ee" after the long winter 

 is over. The tirst few weeks after ar- 

 riving here is spent in company with 

 the Brewer's Blackbirds feeding in 

 large flocks upon the wheat and barley 

 in the hay fields which have ju&t been 

 sown at this time, but as the spring ad- 

 vances, they break up into smaller com- 



