Brewstek on Certain Rare Birds in Texas. 77 



but tlA markings are finer and the ring of color about the larger end less 

 apparent. This nest, together with the eggs and parent birds, is beau- 

 tifully preserved in a section of the limb in which it was found. The 

 entrance hole is of large size, and the entire cavity is apparently a natural 

 one. The nest proper is placed about six inches below the exterior 

 opening. 



3. Dendroeca chrysoparia. Golden-cheeked Warbler. — In 

 the Bvilletin for January, 1879, the fourth known specimen of this rare 

 Warbler was recorded by Mr. Purdie, and the past history of the species 

 fully given. The original specimens were procured by Mr. Salvin in Vera 

 Paz, Guatemala. Since that time, with the exception of a male obtained 

 by Mr. Dresser, near San Antonio, Texas, about 1864, no additional ones 

 have apparently been taken. The specimen mentioned by Mr. Purdie 

 was taken by George H. Ragsdale in Bosque County, Texas, April, 1878. 



In view of these facts the following account, kindly furnished by Mr. 

 Werner, can scarcely fail to prove of great interest. Of the habits of the 

 Golden-cheeked Warbler Mr. Werner writes : — 



" While on a collecting tour in the mountainous districts of Comal 

 County, Texas, I noticed these Warblers, and after studying their habits 

 and different attitudes I shot one, which proved to be a male. Their 

 habits were similar to those of D. virens : they were veiy active, always on 

 the alert for insects, examining almost every limb, and now and then 

 darting after them while on the wing. The male uttered soft notes at in- 

 tervals, which sounded, as nearly as I can express it, like tsrr loeasy-ioeaKy 

 tiveah. I found them invariably in cedar timber, or ' cedar brakes,' as the 

 ranch men call them. I was not fortunate enough to find a nest until the 

 13th of May. About eight days prior to that date I noticed a female bird 

 with building material flying in a certain direction, but it gave me a good 

 deal of trouble before I traced her through underbrush and thickets to a 

 cedar brake, where I found new difficulties. The trees were numerous 

 and standing near together, and a large patch at that; so I came to the 

 conclusion that if I wanted the nest I must examine each tree separately. 

 Accordingly I waited till the 13th, and then commenced in good earnest 

 on my first tree. In about an hour's time, to my great joy, I found the 

 nest, containing three eggs, and also one of the Cow Bunting. I am in- 

 clined to think that they generally lay their eggs earlier in the season, as I 

 had, a few days previous to this, found a brood of young ones following 

 their parents (with young Cow Buntings in their wake), clamoring for food. 



" I also found in the immediate neighborhood another nest, but it was 

 abandoned ; I think it belonged to the same pair of which I found the 

 eggs. This would account for finding them so late with fresh eggs. On 

 the 14th of the same month I found two more nests vacant, and by exam- 

 ining them found that young ones had been hatched, and had already left 

 the nest. 



" The four nests that I have found were similar in construction, and 



