Spring Migration (1914) at Houston, Tex. 137 



observed large droves following plows in company with the Brewer's 

 Blackbird and two Grackles. 



21. Qniscalus quiscula acncus. Bronzed Grackle. — Quite rare in 

 winter, arriving in large numbers with the preceding species on March 

 1. Throughout March and early April they were migrating through, 

 after which period only the summer residents remained. 



22. Astragaliiius iriHtis tristis. Goldfinch. — Fairly common migrant 

 and not uncommon in winter; migration apparently commenced about 

 March 15 and ended April 25, when the last birds were noted. During 

 this migration period the birds were not uncommon in and about the 

 shade trees of the city. 



23. Spinus pinu-'^. Pine Siskin. — Quite a scarce and irregular winter 

 visitor in this locality. None were noted from December, 1913, to 

 March 28, 1914; on that date a flock of twenty was observed in a small 

 patch of woods on the western edge of the city. Later during the day 

 three more were noted. May 9 a few were observed in the woods on 

 Buffalo Bayou about seven miles east of the city, and on May 23 a 

 flock of six was noted. 



24. Pooecetes gramineus gramineus. Yesper Sparrow. — Abundant 

 migrant and scarce winter resident. Migration commenced March 1, and 

 during the whole of March the birds were abundant in small flocks on 

 the prairies and near the woods on Buffalo Bayou. Last observed 

 April 4. 



25. Passercnhis sandicichensis saranna. Savannah Sparrow. — 1 was 

 under the impression that both this form and P. s. alaudinus occurred 

 in this locality, but a number of skins were sent Mr. Oberholser, and he 

 kindly identified them for me as P. s. savanna. 



Common migrant. The first were observed April 4, were common 

 during April and were last observed May 2. They were observed in the 

 newly planted shade trees of a pra'irie suburb on the western edge of 

 the city, and were later (after April 4) observed on the open prairies 

 in flocks of some numbers. 



26. Ammodramus savonnarum himaculatus. Western Graf-shopper 

 Sparrow. — On March 14 Prof. Huxley and myself observed for some 

 time a small Sparrow which we could not at the time identify, but w-hich 

 was later found to be this bird. But it was not until May 17 that I 

 really became acquainted with the birds; that day Mr. L R. Tannehill, 

 an Ohio ornithologist, kindly accompanied me afield for the particular 

 purpose of ascertaining whether or not the birds occurred near Houston. 

 I felt sure they occurred, but that on account of their inconspicuousness 

 I had overlooked them. Show them to me he did, and it did not take me 

 long to find them common on all weedy prairies near the city, particularly 

 those to the west, where they are summer residents. 



27. Chondestes grammacuft strigatus. Western Lark Sparrow. — Com- 

 mon summer resident; a few winter and in migrations a few are noted in 



