Nehrling 071 Birds of Soittheastern Texas. 



167 



I never found the bird breeding in a cotton field or corn field. In winter, 

 however, they phange their habits, and in large flocks visit the sugar-cahe, 

 cotton, and corn fields. 



91. Icterus spurius Bp. Orchard Oriole. — Common during mi- 

 grations. 



91a. Icterus spurius affinis Coucs. Southern Orchard Oriole. — 

 Very common summer sojourner ; breeds in all suitable localities, especially 

 in peach gardens. The bird is decidedlj' smaller than the northern variety ; 

 it is also more active and quicker in its motions. The song is much more 

 varied, and louder, quicker and more beautiful, reminding one of the song 

 of the Baltimore Oriole. The nest is smaller, but it is built of the same 

 materials — green grasses, lined with cotton. May 8, 1S81. I discovered a 

 very curious but not quite finished nest near Spring Creek, only a few 

 yards from a dwelling. For several days I had observed a pair of these 

 birds carrying fresh green grasses to a laurel oak (^«erc/« imbricaria), 

 that was densely covered with large hanging bunches of Spanish moss 

 {Tillandsia usyieoides) \ they disappeared every time into a bunch of 

 moss, 3'et I could see no nest. At last, on taking down the bunch of 

 moss, I was surprised to find a beautiful structure in my hands. The 

 grasses and moss were all woven firmly together ; the entrance was on 

 the side. 



92. Scolecophagus ferrugineus Swains. Rusty Blackbird. — Very 

 rare. A few seen in March, iSSi, among flocks of the following species. 



93. Scolecophagus cyanocephalus Cab. Brewer's Blackbird. — 

 During winter the most common of the family IcteridcB. They are very 

 abundant in Houston from the early part of November to April, when they 

 disappear for the north ; by the end of that month only a few remain to 

 breed in suitable localities. I found several nests May 5, 1881, in thick, 

 small oaks near the Rose Hill Post Office in the northern part of Harris 

 County. The}' were built in the tops of young post oaks (.^uercits obtusi- 

 lobn), about twelve to fifteen feet from the ground, and contained from two 

 to five eggs each. The nests were composed exteriorly of strong slender 

 plant stems and coarse grasses, and were lined with fine grasses. These 

 birds are very unsuspicious and bold during winter, running about in even 

 the most crowded city streets, and also frequenting dooi--yards. On cold 

 days they are easily cavight. I had a pair over a year in a cage ; they soon 

 became reconciled to confinement, and were lively, interesting pets. 



94. Quiscaliis purpureus aeneus Iiidg-zv. Bronzed Grakle. — The 

 most abundant of all the Blackbirds during the breeding season, arriving 

 from their more southern winter qiiarlers early in March. None remain, 

 so far as my observations go, during winter. Thej' breed abundantly in 

 the larger gardens of Houston, especially in the mountain cedars {Juni- 

 penis occideiitalis texatia)., and the live and water oaks (^^ttercus virens 

 et ^. aquatica). In the thick young oak grove near Rose Hill Post Office 

 I found a large colony of about two hundred pairs breeding and in their 

 company also the Boat-tailed Grakles {^uiscalus major) and Brewers 

 Blackbirds [Scolecophagus cyanocephalus'), but each species, had its own 



