Vol. XVII 
ee CarRROLL, Birds of Refugio County, Texas. 343 
so far south of its usual range. But I am almost positive that it was A. 
chrysaétos, being familiar with all plumages of H. leucocephalus. I saw 
but one, in 1896, and have not seen it since. 
83. Halizeetus leucocephalus. BaLp EaGLe.— By no meansrare. Pre- 
éminently a bird of the prairie. At Willow Lake, during the duck season, 
I have seen as many as a dozen at once. Their chief diet in winter 
consists of Ducks and Geese which have been winged by gunners. Nests 
invariably- in the vicinity of prairie ponds. Breeds early — November 
and December. Nests placed in low trees, sometimes at no greater dis- 
tance from the ground than 15 teet. Eggs two, very rarely three. 
84. Falco peregrinus anatum. Duck Hawk.— Rather uncommon 
winter resident. 
85. Falcocolumbarius. P1GEON HAwx.— Rare winter resident. Have 
seen a few. The stomach of one killed Jan. 21, 1898, contained the 
remains of small Sparrow. 
86. Falco richardsoni. RICHARDSON’s MERLIN. — Very rare. 
87. Falco sparverius. AMERICAN SPARROW HAwk.—Not rare in 
winter. None remain through the summer. The winter residents are 
largely reinforced in early April by migrants from the south. Then all 
pass northward. 
88. Polyborus cheriway. AupDUBON’s CARACARA.— Very common 
resident. I think some pass the winter further south, as they seem more 
numerous in summer than in winter. Breeds from February until June. 
Nest in chaparral and small trees on prairie; rarely in edge of timber; 
never, I think, in the woods. Local name, ‘Mexican Buzzard’; called 
by the Mexicans, ‘ Totache.’ 
89. Pandicn haliaétus carolinensis. AMERICAN Osprey. — Not com- 
mon. In fact I have seen only one in the county, Nov. 25, 1899, on St. 
Charles Bay. Natives tell me that they are not as common as formerly, 
and that they once bred here. Local name, ‘ Fish Hawk.’ 
go. Strix pratincola. AMERICAN BARN OwL.— Not common. Found 
one frozen during the winter of 1897-98. Formerly bred in caves in arroya 
banks. Possibly they do yet, but I have not found them so doing. 
gt. Asio accipitrinus. SHORT-EARED OWL. — Saw asingle specimen 
in the spring of 1899. 
g2. Syrnium nebulosum helveolum. TEXAN BARRED OWL. — Toler- 
ably common resident in all parts of the county, especially so in the 
bottoms of the San Antonio River. Breeds in March. 
93. Megascops asio mccalli. TEXAN SCREECH OwL.— Rather rare. 
Have seen but few. Breeds in March and April. 
94. Bubo virginianus pallescens. WESTERN HORNED OWL.— Very 
common resident. Adopts the nests of Buteos and Caracaras. Breeding 
begins in January. Have found their nests far out in the prairie in small 
mottes, miles from timber. 
95. Speotyto cunicularia hypogea. BuRROWING OwL.— Very com- 
