ICTERID^ — THE ORIOLES. 209 



Eagle Pass and at Santa Eosalie, where Lieutenant Couch found them living 

 about the ranches and the cattle-yards. 



]Mr. Dresser, on his arrival at Matamoras, in July, noticed these birds in 

 the streets of that town, in company with the Long-tailed Grakles Q. macru- 

 rus and Molothrus pccoris. He was told by the Mexicans that they breed 

 there, but it was too late to procure their eggs. In the winter vast flocks 

 frequented the roads near by, as well as the streets of San Antonio and Eagle 

 Pass. They were as tame as European Sparrows. Their note, when on the 

 wing, was a low wliistle. When congregated in trees, they kept up an inces- 

 sant chattering. 



Dr. Coues found them permanent residents of Arizona, and exceedingly 

 abundant. It was the typical Blackbird of Fort Whipple, though few proba- 

 bly breed in the immediate vicinity. Towards the end of September they 

 become very numerous, and remain so until May, after which few are ob- 

 served till the fall. They congregate in immense flocks about the corrals, 

 and are tame and familiar. Their note, he says, is a harsh, rasping squeak, 

 varied by a melodious, ringing whistle. I am indebted to this observing 

 ornithologist for the following sketch of their peculiar characteristics : — 



" Brewer's Blackbird is resident in Arizona, the most abundant bird of its 

 family, and one of the most characteristic species of the Territory. It ap- 

 pears about Fort Whipple in flocks in September ; the numbers are aug- 

 mented during the following month, and there is little or no diminution 

 until May, when the flocks disperse to breed. 



" The nest is placed in the fork of a large bush or tree, sometimes at the 

 height of twenty or thirty feet, and is a bulky structure, not distantly resem- 

 bling a miniature Crow's nest, but it is comparatively deeper and more com- 

 pactly built. A great quantity of short, crooked twigs are brought together 

 and interlaced to form the basement and outer wall, and with these is 

 matted a variety of softer material, as weed-stalks, fibrous roots, and dried 

 grasses. A little mud may be found mixed with the other material, but it 

 is not plastered on in any quantity, and often seems to be merely what ad- 

 hered to the roots or plant-stems that were used. The nest is finished 

 inside with a quantity of hair. The eggs are altogether different from those 

 of the Quiscali and Agelcei, and resemble those of the Yellow-headed and 

 Rusty Grakles. They vary in niimber from four to six, and measure barely 

 an inch in length by about three fourths as much in breadth. The ground- 

 color is dull olivaceous-gray, sometimes a paler, clearer bluish or greenish 

 gray, thickly spattered all over with small spots of brown, from very dark 

 blackish-brown or chocolate to light umber. These markings, none of 

 great size, are very irregular in outline, though probably never becoming 

 line-tracery ; and they vary indefinitely in number, being sometimes so 

 crowded that the egg appears of an almost uniform brownish color. 



" In this region the Blackbirds play the same part in nature's economy 

 that the Yellow-headed Troupial does in some other parts of the West, and 



VOL. II. 27 



