136 PROCEEDINGS OP' UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



breed ou the reservatiou. Early in April, after several weeks of noisy 

 courtship, they begin to build in irregular colonies, and by the middle 

 of the month have eggs. The nests are perhaps most frequently placed 

 near the top of one of the main upright branches of a young mesquite- 

 tree. They are strongly built of straws, leaves, and grasses, mud being 

 used freely. Where Spanish moss is plentiful, the nests are sometimes 

 composed entirely of it, and I have found them among tulereeds where 

 several species of Herons were breeding. I have also found their nests 

 either supi)orted by tbe lower part of the nest of the Canicara Eagle or 

 in tbe same tree. The eggs, usually three in number, vary greatly in 

 appearance; tbe ground color is usually a greenish white or purp'.ish- 

 brown, more or less heavily spotted and dashed with several sbtules of 

 brown and black. .These markings are apt to be heavier at the smaller 

 end, which frequently has a much darker ground color than the larger ; 

 and this is so often the case as to be rather characteristic. Forty-five 

 eggs now before me give the following measurements: — average, 1.26 

 by .85; largest, 1.44 by .91; smallest, 1.16 by .82. Tbe annual moult takes 

 place in August. Unlike the Boat-tailed Grackle, tbe males of this race 

 do not leave tbe females while incubating, but are jealous of intruders, 

 and take their share of feeding the young. The various notes of this 

 bird are quite indescribable, and must be heard to be appreciated. The 

 long and heavy tail of this Grackle makes it easily recognizable at a long 

 distance, but is rather inconvenient when there is much wind. At such 

 times, the birds are obliged to " head up" wind, like so many sloops at 

 anchor. They have a frequent and curious habit of throwing their heads 

 up and far back, so that the reversed bill is almost parallel witb the 

 back. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 493. — Sennett, B. Eio Grande, 27.) 



98. Xanthura luxuosa, Less. 



The Rio Grande Jay is a common resident about Fort Brown and 

 higher up tbe river, but does not seem to pass much into tbe interior of 

 Texas. It is a noisy and gaudy species, soon making its i)resen(',e known 

 by its harsh cries or by its green and yellow plumage, si en for a moment 

 as it moves about. Though at times shy, it is often very t.une and bold, 

 entering tents and taking food oft' plates or from tbe kitcben wbfuever 

 a good opportunity offers. Large numbers are caught by the soldiers 

 in traps baited witb corn, but the plumage is tbeir only attraction as a 

 cage-bird. Its eggs and nest were first described in vol. i, p. 89, of the 

 Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club. Since tbat time, I have 

 found several other nests, but they do not affect tbe statements above 

 made in regard to their breeding habits. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 495. — 

 Sennett, B. Eio Grande, 29.) 



99. Sayornis fuscus, Gmel. 



Not uncommon from October until April. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 473.) 



100. Sayornis sayus, Bonap. 



More abundant than the preceding during the winter months. — 

 (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 473.) 



