^°''l9i^"^] Smith, Birds of Kerr Co., Texas. 191 



Aimophila ruficeps eremoeca. Rock Sparrow. — I found the Rock 

 Sparrow most numerous during the winter months. It is however, a com- 

 mon resident of the region; much more abundant over a given area than 

 I found either scotti in Arizona, or ruficeps in CaUfornia. It keeps closely 

 to heavy brush covering hillsides, or (principally in winter) weedy patches 

 along streams. During the breeding season, males were now and then to 

 be seen, mounted on the topmost branch of a tree, singing in a rather 

 dispirited manner. 



Spizella pallida. Clay-colored Sparrow. — The date of departure, 

 given by Lacey for this species, is April 24. I only noted it between May 10 

 to 13; when a limited number, mostly singly or in pairs, were seen feeding 

 along roadsides. 



Spizella pusilla arenacea. Western Field Sparrow. — During the 

 winter months this is the prevailing form; it withdraws rather gradually, 

 not finally departing until after the middle of April when pusilla alone 

 remains to breed. 



Melospiza melodia juddi. Dakota Song Sparrow. — In the list 

 given by Lacey, melodia is the name given to the Song Sparrows visiting 

 the region; and it is quite likely that the eastern form does occur though 

 all examples that I forwarded to the Biological Survey were assigned to 

 the variety /uddi. The species is a common winter visitant, usually found 

 in brush or weeds in vicinity of streams. Departs early, none seen after 

 March 17. 



Pipilo erythrophthalmus erythrophthalmus. Towhee. — On 

 January 19, the familiar notes of the Towhee, issuing from a plum thicket, 

 drew my attention. The bird being secured, proved to be a female, of 

 large size, and in high plumage. I presume it to be an unusual visitant, 

 as this was the only instance that I met with it, and Lacey makes no men- 

 tion of it. 



Petrochelidon lunifrons tachina. Lesser Cliff Swallow. — There 

 can be little doubt that true lunifrons occurs in migration but all examples 

 of this species secured, from the date it was first seen (April 15), seem to 

 be fairly typical of tachina. This form is by far the most numerous of the 

 breeding Cliff Swallows. P. fulva pallida appears not to occur in the 

 eastern half of the county, being first met with about six miles west of 

 Ingram, where several isolated colonies nest. 



Lanivireo solitarius solitarius. Blue-headed Vireo. — I met with 

 the Solitary Vireo on two dates, April 28 and May 17. The single bird 

 observed on the later date, was located by its rich and voluble song, with 

 which I was previously unacquainted. 



Vireo atricapillus. Black-capped Vireo. — This conspicuously 

 marked species arrived about April 5. Nest-building had begun, a nearly 

 completed one being found April 13. The Black-capped Vireo is some- 

 times found breeding in proximity to V. griseus but generally its choice 

 of nesting site is in its favorite feeding haunts — low shin oak, or dwarf 

 plum thickets, on dry hillsides rarely resorted to by the White-eyed Vireo. 



