ZOOLOGY — BIRDS. 53 



must be built of tbe lightest material, so as not to be prostrated by the strong winds which 

 sometimes prevail iu that section of the country. The eggs, four in number, are pale ashy 

 green, thickly covered and minutely dotted with points and spots of light umber brown. The 

 egg of this species forms a remarkable exception to the rest of its genus, its coloring and 

 markings resembling those of our towhee bunting, (Pipilo erythrophthalmus.) While passing a 

 few days at Fort Inge, Texas, I was much astonished one day to find the parade ground, the 

 horse and cattle yards, covered with immense flocks of these birds, having remarked but a few 

 stray ones previous to this period. One of the officers informed me of a like occurrence the 

 year before, and that they then had disappeared as suddenly as they came. 



AGELAIUS TKICOLOR, A u d .—Red and White-winged Blackbird. 



Afjdaius tricolor, AuD. B. of A. Oct. toI. IV, p. 27, pi. 214. — Baird, Gen. Rep. IX, 530. 



Abundant. During the winter of 1852, while hunting in the marshes of Suisun valley, I 

 have often, on hearing a dull, rushing, roaring noise, looked upwards and found it was produced 

 by a single flock of these birds, numbering so many thousands as to darken the sky for some 

 distance by their masses. In the northern part of California I found a breeding place of this 

 species occuj^ying several acres covered with elder bushes and willow, and in the immediate 

 vicinity of water. I was led to this retreat by following the direction taken by many small 

 flocks on their return from the surrounding country over which they scattered for miles in quest 

 of food for their young. The nests, often four or five on the same bush, were composed of mud 

 and straw and lined with fine grasses. The eggs are light blue, marked with lines and spots of 

 dark umber and a few light purple dashes. I fell in with several other breeding places at 

 different times, but, though situated in the same kind of locality as the above one, they were 

 abandoned ; thus rendering it probable that every year difierent grounds are resorted to for the 

 purposes of incubation. 



AGELAIUS GUBERNATOR, W a g 1 e r.— Red and Black-winged Blackbird. 



Agelaius gulernatf/r, Aud. B. of A. Oct. toI. IV, p. 29, pi. 215. — Baird, Gen. Rep. IX, 529. 

 Abundant, aud found in the fall season associating with the two preceding species. Its nest 

 is built in the willow bushes and tussocks of grass, above the level of the water, in the marshes, 

 and but a few pairs together, diflering in this respect from the preceding species, which prefers 

 dry situations near water, and congregates by thousands while breeding. The nest is composed 

 of mud and roots, and lined with fine grasses. The eggs, four in number, are pale blue, dashed 

 with spots and lines of black. 



SCOLECOPHAGUS CTANOCEPHALUS, W a g 1 e r.— Mexican Grakle. 



ScoUcophagits rnexkamis, Swaiss. Two Cent, and a Quart. 

 Quiscalus Irewerii, Aud. B. of A. Oct. vol. VXI, p. 345, pi. 492. 

 Scolecojihagus cyanoctphalus, Baird, Gen. Rep. IX, 552. 



This abundant and beautiful species is scattered over the whole surface of California, and is 

 also very common in New Mexico and Texas, though not a resident of the two last, leaving 

 before the season of incubation. During the fall it frequents the cattle yards and outskirts of 

 towns, where it obtains a plentiful supply of food. It appears very familiar, alighting on the 

 houses and in the streets, having but little cause of fear from man. Its note, before taking 



