ICTKIilD.E — THE OUIULKS. 20D 



Eapfle Pass and at Santa llosalie, where Lieutenant Coueli tniuul them livini; 

 alx)Ut the ranches and tlie cattk^-yards. 



Mr. Dresser, on his arrival at Matanioras, in duly, noticed thesi- l.irds in 

 the streets ot that town, in coniijany with the Long-tailed (Irakles V. nufrrn- 

 riin and Molnthrns juroris. He was told hy the Mexicans that they lnecd 

 there, hut it was too late to ])rocure their eiii^^s. In the winter vast iloeks 

 Ireciuented the rctads near ]>y, as well as tlie street^s of San Antonio and Plaule 

 Pass. They were as tame as Eurojiean S]>arnjw.s. Their note, when on the 

 wing, was a low wliistle. When c<jngregated in trees, they kept \i\) an inces- 

 sant chattering. 



Dr. (.'ones found them permanent residents of Arizona, and exceedingly 

 abundant. It was the typical Blackbird of Fort AVhi})i)le, though few proba- 

 blv breed in the immediate vicinitv. Towards the end of Sei>tember thev 

 become very numerous, and remain so until May, after which few are ob- 

 served till the fall. They congregate in imnienc tlocks about the c(trrals, 

 and are tame and familiar. Their note, he says, is a harsh, rasping squeak, 

 varied by a melodious, ringing whi.stle. I am indebted to this observing 

 ornithologist for the following sketch of tlreir j)eculiar characteristics : — 



"Brewer's Blackbird is resident in Arizona, the most abundant bird of its 

 family, and one of the most characteristic species of the Territory. It ap- 

 pears about Fort AVhipple in iloeks in September; the nundjers are aug- 

 mented during the following month, and there is little or no diminution 

 until ^Lay, when the Hocks disperse to breed. 



"The nest is placed in the fork of a large bush or tree, sometimes at the 

 height of twenty or thirty feet, and is a bulky structure, not distantly resem- 

 bling a miniature Crow's nest, Init it is comparatively deeper and more com- 

 pactly built. A great quantity of short, crooked twigs are brought together 

 and interlace<l to form the basement and outer wall, and with these is 

 matted a variety of softer material, as weed-stalks, fibrous roots, and dried 

 grasses. A little mud may be found mixed with the other mattnial, Imt it 

 is not plastered on in any quantity, and often seems to l)e merely what ad- 

 hered to the roots or plant-stems that were used. The nest is finished 

 inside with a (juantity of hair. The eggs are altogether different from those 

 of the Qniscidi and A(/c/cri, and resemble those of the Yellow-headed and 

 Busty Cirakles. Tliey vary in number from four to six, and measure barely 

 an inch in length bv al>out three fourths as much in breadth. The ground- 

 color is dull olivaceous-gray, sometimes a paler, clearer bluish or greenish 

 gi'ay, thickly sj)attered all over with small spots of brown, from very dark 

 blackish-brown or chocolate to light lunber. These marking.*?, none of 

 great size, are very irregular in outline, though probably never becoming 

 line-tracery ; and they vary indefinitely in nundjer, being sometimes so 

 crowded that the egg a})pears (»f an almost uniform brownish color. 



"In this region the Blackbirds ]»lay the same part in nature's economy 

 that the Yellow-headed Troupial does in some other parts of the ^Vest, and 



VOL. II. Iff 



