328 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Colorado Eiver, in California, by Dr. A. Scliott, and at Los Nogales, Mexico, 

 by Dr. Kennerly. It was also met with in the Sacramento Valley by Dr. 

 Heermann ; at Fort Thorn, New Mexico, by Dr. Henry ; on the Pecos, 

 Texas, by Captain Pope ; and specimens from Mexico have been received 

 from Mr. Gould. It does not appear to have been observed in Southwestern 

 Texas by Mr. Dresser. 



This species Dr. Cooper states to be quite common throughout the south- 

 ern half of California, and resident throughout the year at least as far north 

 as Los Angeles. In color they greatly resemble the T. vcrticalis, but are 

 less lively and not so quarrelsome in their habits. During the early part of 

 the year they begin to sing by daylight, generally from the top of some high 

 tree. Their notes are said to be loud and much more musical than those of 

 the other species, and their song exhibits considerable variety for a bird of 

 this family. During the middle of the day they are rather quiet, and sit 

 much of the time on their perch, occasionally catching an insect that comes 

 very near, but they are supposed by Dr. Cooper to feed mostly in the very 

 early morning. This observer found tliem breeding at San Diego as early 

 as March 28, as well as subsequently. Their nest is said to be much larger 

 and more firmly built than are those of others of the genus, being five and 

 a half inches in external diameter and about two and a lialf in height. The 

 cavity is three inches wide at the rim. The eggs, which he describes as 

 white, with large scattered reddish-brown and umber blotches, measure .96 

 of an inch in length and .70 in breadth. He found some of these birds Mn 

 Santa Clara Valley in May, 1864. They appeared to be smaller and greener 

 on the back than those from the South. They winter in large numbers at 

 Santa Clara, in latitude 37°. 



Dr. Coues found this a very abundant summer resident at Fort Whipple, 

 breeding there in considerable numbers, and all leaving early in October. 



Mr. Ptidgway did not meet with this species anywhere in the Great Basin, 

 nor in the Sacramento Valley. On the plains it is found as far north as 

 Cheyenne and Laramie Peak, and in the southern portion of the Western 

 Provinces extends westward to California. 



Specimens were obtained by Mr. George M. Skinner from Salama, Vera 

 Paz, in Central America. It was also taken, in February, near Oaxaca, 

 Mexico, by Mr. Boucard. 



A nest of this bird (No. 1,828), in the Smithsonian Museum, was taken at 

 Volcan de Colima, June, 1863, by Mr. John Xantus. It is a slight struc- 

 ture composed chiefly of wiry grass, mixed with bits of wool, and lined with 

 finer grasses. The eggs are two in number, having a pure-white ground, 

 freckled on the larger end with purplish-brown and grayish-lilac. These 

 markings are more sparse and are finer than those of the eggs of any other 

 species of this genus, so far as I am aware. One of the eggs has a few 

 blotches of umber on the larger end. They measure, one .93 by .68 of an 

 inch, the other .93 by .65. 



