136 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 88 



arrivals of Chimney Swifts at Houston for the past four years range 

 from March 26 to 30, averaging March 29. This year (1914) two birds 

 were observed on March 24. The next were noted on the 26th, but the 

 birds did not become common until the 28th; after that they were seen 

 each day, being common summer residents about the city. 



15. ArcMlochus colubris. Euby-throated Hummingbird. — Prof. H. P. 

 Attwater first observed the Hummers in his garden in the city on March 

 28, but it was not until the 30th that I noted my first. By April 4 they 

 were fairly common and remained so until about May 2, when the migra- 

 tion apparently ceased, leaving a very few birds as rare and irregular 

 summer residents. 



16. Dolichonyx oryzivorus. Bobolink. — Houston does not fall within 

 the ' ' fly-line ' ' of the Bobolink, but a few are generally noted during 

 each migration. This year two males were noted on the edge of the 

 Buffalo Bayou woods about a mile west of the city on April 26. On 

 May 2, four males and two females were observed on the south side 

 of the city. 



17. Molothrus ater ater. Cowbird. — During the winter months small 

 flocks are not unconnnon on the prairies near the city. About March 30 

 the last wintering flocks were observed, leaving only the summer resident 

 birds. Whether these summer birds are M. a. ater or M. a. obscurus 

 (Dwarf Cowbird) has Aot yet been determined, though I feel sure they 

 are the latter. 



18. Xanthocepliulus xanilioceplmlus. Yellow-headed Blackbird. — 

 Evidently quite rare in late years, for my only record for the past winter 

 and spring is April 5, when three of these birds were noted in a small 

 marshy spot near Webster, a station some 20 miles from Houston in 

 the southeastern part of the count}'. 



19. Sturnella magna argutuUi. Southern Meadowlark. — In several 

 localities about the city Meadowlarks are not uncommon all winter, and 

 though I have not determined by collecting the birds, I am convinced 

 that they are S.m. magna, S. m. argutula and S. neglecta, the former 

 j^robably predominating. 



March 1 the first migrating Meiulowlarks were noted; during the whole 

 of March flocks of considerable numbers were continually passing north- 

 ward. By the end of that month the migration dwindled and the last 

 straggling migratory flock was observed on April 4, after which date 

 only the summer resident birds remained. Migrants and summer res- 

 idents are S. m. argutula. 



20. Eiiphagus carolinus. Eusty Blackbird. — This migrant Blackbird 

 seems to become more common year by year. First arrivals (1914) noted 

 March 1, after which date they were the most abundant of all the birds. 

 Throughout the month they weie migrating northward, and the last 

 were observed April 5. During this period they were abundant in flocks 

 on all prairie lands, especially to the west of the city, where I often 



