328 XDRTII AMERICAX BIRDS. 



Colorado IJiver, in California, by Dr. A. Scliott, and at Los Xo<;ales, Mexico, 

 l>y I)r. Kfiineily. It was also met with in the Sacramento Valley by Dr. 

 Ileermann ; at Fort Thorn, New Mexico, by Dr. Henry ; on the Pecos, 

 Texas, by ('a])tain Pope; and specimens from Mexico liave been received 

 from Mr. (lould. It does not appear to have been observed in Southwestern 

 Texas by ^Ir. Dresser. 



This species Dr. Cooper states to be (piite common throuirhont the south- 

 ern half of California, and resident throughout tlu year at least as far north 

 as Los Anj^'eles. In color thev jjrreatlv resemble tlie T. vcrtira/is, but are 

 less livtdy and not so <|uarrelsome in their habits. Durini;" the early part of 

 the year they bep^in to sini; by daylight, j^'enemlly from the top of some hi-^h 

 tree. Tlieir notes are said to be loud and much more musical than those of 

 the otlier species, and tlieir sonj^ exhibits considerable variety for a bird of 

 this fauiily. During the middle of the day they are rather cpiiet, and sit 

 much of tlie time on their ])erch, occasionally catching an insect that comes 

 very near, but they are supposed by Dr. Cooper to feed mostly in the very 

 early morning. This observer found them breeding at San Diego as early 

 as March 28, as well tas subsequently. Their nest is said to be nuicli larger 

 and more firmly built than are those of others of the genus, being five and 

 a half inches in external diameter and about two and a half in height. The 

 cavity is three inches wide at the rim. The egijs, which he describes as 

 white, with large scattered redilish-brown and umber Idotches, measure .96 

 of an inch in length and .70 in breadth. He found some of these birds in 

 Santa Clara Valley in ^lay, 18(34. They appeared to be smaller and greener 

 on the back than those from the South. They winter in large numbers at 

 Santa Clara, in latitude 37°. 



Dr. Coues found this a very abundant sunmier resident at Fort "NMiipple, 

 breeding there in considerable numbei's, and all leaving early in October. 



Mr. Pidgway did not meet with this species anywhere in the Great Basin, 

 nor in the Sacramento Valley. On the plains it is found as far north as 

 Cheyenne and Laramie Peak, and in the southern portion of the AVestern 

 Provinces extends westward to California. 



Specimens were obtained by jMr. George AL Skinner from Salama, Vera 

 T*az, in Central America. It was also taken, in February, near Oaxaca, 

 Mexico, by Mr. Boucard. 



A nest of this bird (Xo. 1,828), in the Smithsonian IMuseum, was taken at 

 Yolcan de Colima, June, 18G3, by Mr. John Xantus. It is a slight struc- 

 ture com])osed chieHy of wiry grass, mixed with bits of wool, and lined with 

 finer grasses. The eggs are two in number, having a pure-white gi'ound, 

 freckled on the larger end with purplish-brown and grayish-lilac. Tliese 

 markings are more sparse and are finer than those of the eggs of any other 

 species of this genus, so iar as I am aware. One of the eggs has a few 

 blotches of umber on the larger end. They measure, one .03 by .08 of an 

 inch, the otlier .93 by .65. 



