9 



Brewster on the Blach-Capiied Virco. 101 



of the nesting habits of the birds : " I first observed the Yireo atri- 

 capiUiis in the northwestern part of Comal County, Texas, along the 

 Guadaloupe Eiver, about twenty-three miles northwest of New 

 Brunsfels. They were not very plenty ; I noticed diu'ing my 

 rambles ten to twelve specimens in a radius of about ten miles, in 

 the course of six weeks. The peculiar song of the male first at- 

 tracted my attention, and as soon as I saw the bird I was sure that 

 it belonged to the Vireo genus. They seemed to prefer moun- 

 tainous districts ; at least I always found them in such localities. 

 They frequented low brushwood, and built their nests from three to 

 four feet above the ground. They were of a very lively disposition, 

 restless, I should say, always flitting about from bush to bush, 

 warbling and mimicking other birds like a Mocking-Bird in minia- 

 ture. They seemed to be very much attached to their nests, and 

 were very tame while sitting, so much so that at difterent times I 

 walked up to the nest and touched it with my hand before the 

 bird would leave it. On one such occasion I shot the bird that had 

 just left the nest, and it proved to be a male. I think that estab- 

 lishes the fact that both male and female assist in incubation 



I found the first nest on the 6th of May. It was built in a small 

 live-oak, and contained four eggs. I shot both parent birds (from 

 which my drawing * was made). A few days later I found another 

 nest containing three eggs, and also obtained both parent birds. A 

 week after this I found a third nest in which were three young. 

 These, after a close examination, I left unmolested." 



From the above it will appear that to Mr. Werner is due all 

 credit for discovering the first authentic nest of the Black-capped 

 Vireo known to science. Those received by Mr. Ricksecker were 

 collected May 26 and .June 13 respectively. Concerning the former 

 specimen, which is now before me, Mr. Werner writes : " I saw also 

 (when found) the nest and eggs Mr. Ricksecker is speaking of, and 

 you can safely rely that they are well-authenticated and correct." 

 This nest — so the legend upon the label runs — was built " in a 

 red-oak tree." It is suspended in the fork of two very slender 

 twigs, and is in every way after the usual type of Vireonhie archi- 



* Mr. "Werner has sent nie for examination an exquisite little study in water- 

 colf)rs of a pair of Black-capped Vireos, with their nest and egg, taken from 

 specimens in his fine collection. Probably many who visited the Centennial 

 Exhibition at Philadelphia will remember seeing there his exhibit of several 

 groups of mounted birds, all masterpieces of taxidermal skill. 



