38 HISTORY OF THE 



orly. Transverse corrugations of the middle rectrices quite obsolete. Nestling: 

 Covered with buff-colored, down. 7 ' 



Stretch of 

 Length. wing. Wing: Tail. Tarsus. Bill. 



Male 36.00 46.25 14.00 11.00 1.40 3.25 



Female... 35.00 44.30 13.25 10.65 1.40 3.00 



This species was captured within the State, in the Solomon 

 valley, in August, 1881, by Mr. C. W. Smith, of Stockton; and 

 May 1st, 1888, Mr. Daniel Lambert, of Wilburn, Ford county, 

 shot, in the northern part of Meade county, on Crooked Creek, 

 five of the birds, out of a small flock that arrived a few days 

 before and together. There is quite a thick grove of trees along 

 the creek in that vicinity, and if they had not been disturbed it 

 is possible they might have nested there, and it may have been 

 their occasional breeding ground before the settlement of the 

 county. 



The first time that I met with the birds was at the mouth of 

 the San Jacinto River and on Buffalo Bayou, Texas, during the 

 last of March and the first of April. I was too early for their 

 eggs, but before I left they had commenced building their nests 

 in the trees. 



The birds are more or less gregarious, roosting in small flocks 

 at night in the tree tops, and during the day when at rest are 

 to be seen perched upon an old stub or the lower branches of 

 trees over the water. I found them very shy, and ever upon the 

 alert, darting from their perch at the sight of an intruder, and 

 disappearing beneath the water without scarcely leaving a ripple 

 upon its surface, coming up hundreds of yards away, and, if 

 badly frightened, only thrusting the bill out far enough to take 

 in a supply of air; and if the water is not perfectly smooth it is- 

 useless to look for them. 



Its food is chiefly fish, which it catches beneath the water, 

 where it flies with the aid of its feet as swiftly as in the air; 

 rarely ever at such times coming above the surface with more 

 than the head and neck, which is so long, slim and wavy in 

 motions, that it is oftener taken for a snake than a bird. When 

 not fishing or apprehensive of danger, they ride up lightly upon 

 the water. I have since met with the birds all along the Gulf 



