PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 121 



H. Auriparus flaviceps, (Sund.). 



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

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

 quenting mostly amaigosa 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 was composed 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. Eio Grande, 6.) 



12. * Thryothorus ludovicianus var. berlandieri, Couch. 



A rather common resident, and found in all situations. Its song and 

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

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

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

 piles and fences. 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 jjile 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. ludovicianus. — [T. ludovicianus berlandieri, Sennett, B. Kio 

 Grande, 8.) 



13. * Thryomanes bewicki var. leucogaster, Baird. 



Thryothorus bewicki, ScL.,F. Z. S. 1859,372 (Oaxaca) ; Catal. 1861,22, No. 141 

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

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

 9 (Brownsville and Hidalgo, lexas).* 



Thryothorus bewicki var. leucogaster, Baird, Review, 1864 127 (San Antonio 

 and Ringgold Barracks, Texas; Sta. Rosalia, Taraaulipas, and 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 possesses 

 two specimens of the latter from Waller County and Brazos, Texas, but uoue 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 bcivicki alluded 

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

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

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



