12 Ornithological Notes. 



they have been tamed (caged). "When approached, they run 

 with great speed, until near cover, when they stop and recon- 

 noitre the intruder, gives its tail a flirt, and away it goes again. 

 I saw in 1846, on the mountains between Monterey and Sal- 

 tillo, a pair of birds much like these, but much smaller. I 

 observed them for some time, and feel satisfied that they were 

 another bird. The snail, that seems to form their principal 

 food, is found sticking to almost every bush, and often literally 

 covered with them. Their stomach is made for digesting only 

 soft substances (I had a drawing of one — I believe I gave it to 

 you). 



Pyrocephalus coeonatus (Gmel.) This beautiful little 

 fly-catcher is seldom seen. I did not see over a dozen of 

 them while in Western Texas. I always found them near the 

 ponds along the Eio Grande, and generally on a tree or stake 

 over the water. The only nest I ever found was built upon a 

 retama (a variety of the acacia) over the water. I was not 

 able to get at the nest. The female is quite a plain bird. 



Quiscalus macrourus (Swain). This magnificent speci- 

 men of the blackbird built in large communities at Fort 

 Brown. Upon an ebony that stood near the centre of the 

 parade-ground at that fort, a pair of these birds placed their 

 nest. Just before their young was able to fly, one of them — 

 probably making his first essay upon wing — fell to the ground. 

 A boy about ten years old discovered the unfortunate fellow, 

 and seized upon it. Though so young, it used its bill, and 

 uttering loud calls, soon brought to its rescue a legion of old 

 birds, and so vigorously did they attack the boy, that he drop- 

 ped his prize and fled, I went and picked up the young bird, 

 when they turned their fury upon me, passing so close to my 

 head that I caught at them, but without success — all the time 

 uttering their sharp " caw." I placed the young one upon the 

 tree, and left it, to the evident satisfaction of the army of rescue. 



