Nehri.ing on Birds of Southeastern Texas. 7 



3. Turdus fuscescens, Stcph. Wilson's Thrush. — Only a few ob- 

 served during the fall migration. 



4. Turdus swainsoni, Cab. Olive-backed Thrush. — Not rare 

 during the migrations. 



5. Mimus polyglottus, Bote. Mockingbird. — A very abundant 

 resident. Only a few remain to winter, in protected localities ; the ma- 

 jority migrate further south. They arrive from their winter quarters 

 early in March and are by the end of that month again common. Nest- 

 building commences usually in the middle of April. Many are killed by 

 farmers and gardeners on account of their fondness for ripe figs and grapes. 

 Besides insects, they feed eagerly on the berries of the poke [^Phytolacca 

 decandra), the elder {Sambzicus canadensis), and the Mexican mulberry 

 {Callicarpa americana). In winter the berries of the myrtle-holly {Ore- 

 opkila myrtifolia) and those of the mistletoe {Phoradendron Jiavescens) 

 are their principal food. 



6. Mimu.s carolinensis, Gray. Catbird. — I first observed a single 

 specimen of this bird April 25, 1S79. It was then my opinion that this 

 bird must be a very rare migrant, as I did not meet with another that 

 year. It was this year (iSSi), May 5, when I wandered through the thick 

 underbrush in the woods on Spring Creek that I heard the peculiar cry 

 of the Catbird, and a few minutes after I discovered the nest, which was 

 built in a young oak sapling, about ten feet above the ground. They are 

 not the familiar and confident birds of the Northern States, but extremely 

 shy and retiring in their habits. They kept a good distance from me when 

 I took the nest. 



7. Harporhynchus rufus. Cab. Brown Thrush. — Common during 

 the winter months in the thick underbrush of the woods near Spring 

 Creek, in the northern part of Harris County. Very silent and extremely 

 shy. 



8. Sialia sialis, Hald. Bluebird. — A very abundant winter so- 

 journer and a common summer resident; but not so abundant as in the 

 Northern States, and not so familiar. Commences to breed as early as 

 February 15. I found a nest March 6, which contained newly hatched 

 young. A nest discovered April 29 contained four pure white eggs. 



9. Regulus calendula, Lkht. Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and 



10. Regulus satrapa, Licht. American Golden-crested Kinglet. 

 — Both are common during the winter months, when, in company with 

 Titmice, they inhabit the pine woods near Houston. Are to be observed 

 during the whole winter in the mountain cedars {Juniperus occidentalis 

 texaniis), which are common in the gardens of the city. 



11. Polioptila ceerulea, Sdat. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. — Com- 

 mon in the heavy wooded bottom lands on the Brazos, Spring Creek, and 

 San Jacinto, and especially abundant on Buffalo Bayou when the mag- 

 nificent Magnolia grandijlora is in bloom. Almost with the agility and 

 grace of a Hummingbird, it flies around the showy flowers in pursuit of 

 insects. Nest-building commences early in May. This beautiful little 

 domicile is built very high, in small branches of elms, swamp-oaks 

 (y^uercus palustris) and other densely leaved forest trees. 



