88 BULLETIN OF THE NUTTALL 



NOTES ON TEXAN BIRDS. 



BY J. C. MERRILL, M. D., ASSISTANT SURGEON, U. S. A. 



I. Five Species of Birds new to the Fauna of the United States. 

 I have recently obtained the following species, new to the fauna 

 of the United States, in the vicinity of Fort Brown, Texas : — 



1. Molothrus aeneus, JFagler. This species, next to Quiscalus major 

 var. macrurus, is the most abundant of the family here during the summer 

 months, and it is strange it was not obtained by earlier collectors. Pro- 

 fessor Baird informs me that specimens forwarded to him may constitute a 

 variety. 



2. Nyctidromus albicollis, Sclater. In Baird, Brewer, and Eidgway's 

 " Birds of North America " (Vol. II, p. 399), mention is made of the pos- 

 sible occurrence of this species within our limits. My first specimen was 

 taken within Fort Brown on the 1st of April of this year. On May 2, 

 while in camp some sixty-five miles up the river (Rio Grande), I obtained 

 a female as she flew up from her two eggs ; and on the 15th of the same 

 month a second set of eggs was found near the place where the first were 

 obtained. The characteristic notes heard every evening showed that this 

 species was by no means rare. 



3. Pyrrhopheena riefferi, Bourc. This Mexican and Guatemalan 

 species of Hummer is identified by Mr. Ridgway from my description of a 

 specimen taken here last June by a soldier. He wished to keep it, but it 

 escaped in a day or two. A second specimen was shot here a few weeks 

 later, determined by Mr. Ridgway to be this species. 



4. Parra gymnostoma, Wagler. Early in August I saw a pair of 

 water-birds quite new to me on the borders of a lagoon near Fort Brown. 

 I was on horseback at the time, and did not have my gun, but had a good 

 opportunity to observe them carefully. The next day I winged one of 

 them, but it fell into a dense bed of water-plants, and could not be found, 

 and the survivor disappeared. Respecting a letter describing the bird as 

 seen, Mr. Ridgway writes : " The bird you describe is undoubtedly Parra 

 gymnostoma ; .... the chestnut back and yellow (greenish-yellow) wings 

 settle the species beyond a doubt." 



5. Podiceps dominicus, Lath. This species was first obtained early 

 in March, three specimens being killed at one shot. I have also seen them 

 in April, May, and August, in the shallow lagoons about here. 



